Mogadishu, (insidesomalia.org) - Gwan Li Gouil, A French journalist who was abducted nine days ago in the northern part of Somalia has been released overnight, Somali officials have announced.

'The French journalist has just been released and is now staying with officials, local elders and some diplomats in the hotel,' Puntland trade and industry minister Abdishamad Yusuf Abwan said.

'I'm fine. I'm healthy. I'm only feeling very tired,' Gwen Le Gouil told a brief news conference in Puntland's main port. 'I'm very happy to be free to go back to France and see my family.'

Somali government officials said no ransom had been paid for the Frenchman and he had been released without condition.

Le Gouil, an awarded cameraman, was taken hostage on Dec. 16 while he was making a documentary about human trafficking in the African nation.

Militias apparently demanded $80,000 as ransom, authorities and media watchdog said.

French embassy delegation had discussions with Puntland authorities in the last few days in Boosaaso and a committee was set up to negotiate with the abductors for the release of Le Gouil.

Also, Puntland authorities appointed a special negotiator to negotiate with the kidnappers for the release of the journalist.

Le Guile asked international Media watchdog organizations earlier last week to do something for his release.

Somali has been hostile environment to foreign journalists and aid workers, some of whom have been killed or kidnapped because of violence and lawlessness.

Press Emblem Campaign, a Swiss media defence group said in a report released on Monday that eight journalists were killed in Somalia this year alone, making it the second most dangerous country for journalists after Iraq.

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