Kidnapped newsman free in Somalia

Gwen Le Gouil was awarded this year's Prix Albert Londres

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).

Mr Le Gouil was in Bosasso to shoot a documentary on the mass smuggling of refugees from Somalia and other war-torn Horn of Africa countries across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen when he was captured on 16 December 16.

Mr le Gouil is an award-winning journalist, landing this year's Albert Londres prize for a video report on the killing of 17 humanitarian workers in Sri Lanka.

According to a report released recently by the Swiss media defence group Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), eight journalists were killed in Somalia this year alone, making it the second most dangerous country for journalists after Iraq.