Three Chinese nationals kidnapped in north Mogadishu released
( 2001-07-08 15:29 ) (7 )

Three Chinese nationals who were abducted overnight in the northern part of the Somali capital Mogadishu have been released by their captors, mediators said on Sunday.

The three were released unconditionally without any payment changing hands, the mediators said, without explaining the motive behind the abduction of the men.

Somali elders, who worked through the night on Saturday to secure their release, earlier told reporters that unidentified gunmen stormed a hotel in north Mogadishu at 10:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) and took the three men hostage.

Somali gunmen usually do not release their captives without receiving ransom payments, which normally include expenses incurred during their captivity.

But on Sunday, mediators said: "They are free and safe. No ransom was paid or demanded."

The Chinese men, who were in Mogadishu to build a small factory that is to produce food items, were kidnapped and taken away to north Mogadishu's Gedoole neighbourhood, where they were guarded overnight by heavily armed gunmen.

Kidnapping is one of the major security risks in the Somali capital, through which abductors demand huge ransoms before freeing their captives.

Most of the victims are either foreigners, business people and Somalis from minority clans.

Kidnapping, which is a way of life for Somali freelance and clan militias, also affects the operation of international organisations in Mogadishu.

Somalia has not had an effective central government capable of stopping such kidnappings and has been ruled by clan warlords since dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled in January 1991.