Two Italian aid workers kidnapped in south Somalia in May were released Tuesday after local elders and members of the Somali civil society groups interfered, local media reported.
"As confirmed by news sources, two Italian aid workers held hostage by gunmen in Awdegle village in Lower Shabelle region were released," the local Shabelle radio reported.
Elders of the Hawiye clan, the largest in Somalia, and members of the Somali civil society groups have reportedly been involved in talks with the captors for some time.
The two Italian nationals worked for a non-governmental organization, known as Cooperazione Italiana Nord Sud (CINS), which operates in some districts in Lower Shabelle region 100 km south of the capital Mogadishu.
The fate of a Somali doctor abducted along with the two Italians is not yet known. Reports say that he was held at a separate place and his health has been deteriorating since his abduction nearly three months ago.
It is not clear if ransom had been paid to secure the release of the hostages, who have been flown to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, where they are expected to leave for Italy.
A number of local and international aid workers have recently been the target of unknown gunmen who recently killed several aid workers and kidnapped others.
Aid agencies have withdrawn their foreign staff and scaled down their operations in southern and central Somalia where violence against aid workers has been particularly worse.
Somali gunmen usually kidnap foreigners in Somalia, particularly aid workers, for ransom and usually do not harm their hostages in expectation of hefty ransom payouts.
Three other foreigners, a Kenyan teacher, a British and a Kenyan aid workers are still being held after they were kidnapped in south Somalia in May and April respectively. Their whereabouts or the motives of their kidnappers remain unknown.
Somalia is facing a humanitarian crisis caused by conflict, drought, and price rises in basic commodities.
Some 2.6 million Somalis, representing 35 percent of the population, are believed to be in need of humanitarian aid.
There hasn't been a functioning government in Somalia since 1991, when former president Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted.
Source:Xinhua
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