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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7159626.stm
Last Updated: Monday, 24 December 2007, 19:48 GMT
“Kidnapped newsman free in Somalia”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A French journalist who was abducted by gunmen in Somalia’s breakaway state of Puntland more than a week ago has been freed, according to officials.
Gwen Le Gouil was kidnapped within 24 hours of his arrival in Bossasso to research a story on human trafficking.
The cameraman was in good health and no ransom had been paid for his release, police said.
Government officials and influential clan elders in the region had been negotiating Mr Le Gouil’s release.
Puntland government officials and elders said last week that the abductors had asked for a ransom of $70,000 (£35,000).”
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7159420.stm
Last Updated: Monday, 24 December 2007, 21:26 GMT
“Tourists shot dead in Mauritania”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Four members of the same French family have been shot dead while on holiday in Mauritania, police say.
At least two children were among the dead, the French embassy in Mauritania told the AFP news agency.
The four were killed during a robbery, the police chief of the nearby town of Aleg told AP news agency.
A fifth person - said to be the father of the family - was seriously injured in the attack, about 250km (160 miles) east of the capital, Nouakchott.
The wounded man was receiving treatment in hospital in Aleg but would be transferred immediately to Nouakchott, the French embassy official added.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said details of the incident were not yet clear.
“It’s still too early to say exactly what the reasons were for this attack which I can’t describe because we don’t know the motivation or even really how it occurred,” he said during a visit to a Paris hospital.
“As things stand, I can only confirm this sad news and offer my condolences.””