Somali kidnappers today released six foreigners seized in November last year in central Somalia, an official told Reuters.
"Three female and one male foreign aid workers and two Kenyan pilots have safely entered Mogadishu airport," an airport official said.
The six - two Kenyans, two French nationals, a Bulgarian and a Belgian - were being driven to Mogadishu airport to fly out. Their destination was not immediately clear.
"I understand $3 million in ransom was paid to release the six aid workers kidnapped from our region," local elder Farah Hussein told Reuters by phone from Gurael in central Somalia. The ransom amount could not be independently confirmed.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed the release.
"The president is overjoyed and very relieved over the announcement that four members of the NGO Action Contre la Faim, have been freed after being held hostage in Somalia for nine months," a statement from the presidency said.
The statement said that Mr Sarkozy had reaffirmed his determination to fight against such acts with international partners.
Somalia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for aid workers, who have been the targets of assassinations and kidnappings during a two-year insurgency led by Islamist militants against the government and foreign backers.
But captives are rarely harmed and are usually and set free once a ransom is paid.
Reuters