A French security adviser seized by Islamist militants in Somalia has escaped his captors, officials say.
The Frenchman, who was kidnapped from a hotel in Mogadishu along with a colleague last month, reportedly killed three militants as he made his escape.
Nothing is known of the fate of the second hostage, who is being held by a different rebel faction.
The pair were part of a team training government forces, who are battling the rebels for control of the country.
A spokesman for the interim government, Abdulkadir Hussein Wehliye, said the man who escaped was in the presidential palace and "in a good mood".
A government military official, Farhan Asanyo, said the man unexpectedly came up to government soldiers early on Wednesday, identified himself and said he had escaped.
"The man told them that he was one of the French officials held by militants," Mr Asanyo said.
"He said he escaped after killing three of his captors, and we sent him to the presidential palace."
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan, in Mogadishu, says the two French captives were being held by different factions.
While fighters from the Hizbul-Islam group were holding the man who has now escaped, their allies from al-Shabab are thought to hold the other man.
The two groups control much of southern Somalia, but analysts say al-Shabab is known for being the more radical of the two groups.
Al-Shabab fighters care little for their public image and they have carried out killings on camera.
Both groups are said to have links to al-Qaeda and have been reinforced by foreign fighters.
Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991.
Moderate Islamist Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was sworn in as president in January after UN-brokered peace talks.
He promised to introduce Sharia law but the hardliners accuse him of being a western stooge.
French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
-
- 4 Star Admiral
- Posts: 26014
- Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:58 pm
- Location: Poblacht na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath
French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
Perhaps the most awesome Frenchman since the start of the 20th century.
"You've all been selected for this mission because you each have a special skill. Professor Hawking, John Leslie, Phil Neville, the Wu-Tang Clan, Usher, the Sugar Puffs Monster and Daniel Day-Lewis! Welcome to Operation MindFuck!"
-
- 4 Star Admiral
- Posts: 21747
- Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:38 pm
- Location: Forward Torpedo Tube Twenty. Help!
- Contact:
Re: French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
-
- 3 Star Admiral
- Posts: 10988
- Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:01 pm
- Location: Timepire Mobile Command Centre
- Contact:
Re: French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
This guys gotta be ex-Army or Legion.
-
- Fleet Admiral
- Posts: 35635
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:04 am
- Commendations: The Daystrom Award
- Location: down the shore, New Jersey, USA
- Contact:
Re: French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
Must be like the old joke about Italians - they're dangerous until you put them in an army. ![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
I can't stand nothing dull
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
-
- 4 Star Admiral
- Posts: 21747
- Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:38 pm
- Location: Forward Torpedo Tube Twenty. Help!
- Contact:
Re: French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
Ain't it, though?Tyyr wrote:Always nice to see a happy ending.
May all kidnappers and terrorists get the same ending.
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
Re: French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
Aye.Tsukiyumi wrote:Ain't it, though?Tyyr wrote:Always nice to see a happy ending.
May all kidnappers and terrorists get the same ending.
No trees were killed in transmission of this message. However, some electrons were mildly inconvenienced.
-
- 3 Star Admiral
- Posts: 10654
- Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:49 pm
- Location: Jeri Ryan's Dressing Room, Shhhhh
Re: French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
Now these are some people who's deaths I can take some joy in.
- Graham Kennedy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 11561
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:28 pm
- Location: Banbury, UK
- Contact:
Re: French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
Lol, I have Colonel Trautman from the Rambo movies in my head. "You don't understand, kidnappers... I'm not here to save your hostage from you. I'm here to save you from your hostage..."
Getting away is great. Taking three bad guys out in the process? That's just awesome. Only downside is you have to wonder how they're gonna treat the next westerner they get hold of.
Getting away is great. Taking three bad guys out in the process? That's just awesome. Only downside is you have to wonder how they're gonna treat the next westerner they get hold of.
Give a man a fire, and you keep him warm for a day. SET a man on fire, and you will keep him warm for the rest of his life...
Re: French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
Hopefully they won't have a chance... but thats probably asking for too much.
I wonder what Deep is gonna say when he hears about this Frenchman...
I wonder what Deep is gonna say when he hears about this Frenchman...
No trees were killed in transmission of this message. However, some electrons were mildly inconvenienced.
Re: French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
Haha, I wonder what he killed them with? his bare hands?
I think it would be equally awesome if he killed them with one of their own guns... serves 'em right for thinking they would get away with it.
I think it would be equally awesome if he killed them with one of their own guns... serves 'em right for thinking they would get away with it.
- Deepcrush
- 4 Star Admiral
- Posts: 18917
- Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:15 pm
- Location: Arnold, Maryland, USA
Re: French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
Thats the first thing I thought of!!!!!!Tsukiyumi wrote:Little did they know they'd kidnapped Leon.![]()
![laughroll :laughroll:](./images/smilies/laughing-smiley-014.gif)
I'm betting he's Legion, no reg is that good.
Jinsei wa cho no yume, shi no tsubasa no bitodesu
-
- 4 Star Admiral
- Posts: 21747
- Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:38 pm
- Location: Forward Torpedo Tube Twenty. Help!
- Contact:
Re: French Hostage Escapes Captors; Kills 3
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939