Gunmen kidnap French journalist in north Somalia

BOSASSO (Somalia), 18 Dec — Gunmen in Somalia’s northern Puntland region kidnapped a French journalist on Sunday, thearea’s deputy governor said. “A French journalist has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen,” Yusuf Mumin Bidde told Reuters. “Puntland security officials are now meeting on that issue.” He had no information on the identity of the reporter or his media organization. The reporter’s driver told Reuters the attack took place some 70 kilometres (45 miles) east of Puntland’s main town of Bosasso. “I, with the translator, tried to talk to the gunmen who demanded a 70,000-USdollar ransom,” OmarAhmed said. He said the journalist was working on a story about Somali migrants being smuggled to Yemen.—