MOGADISHU, Somalia, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Clan elders helped free a British employee of Save The Children six days after he was abducted in Somalia, the organization said.
Anna Ford, a spokeswoman for the group in Nairobi, Kenya, said Save The Children had been able to talk to Frans Barnard and he was being moved to "a place of safety," Sky News reported. Barnard described his release as "bloody marvelous," she said.
"He confirmed that he was safe and well and was confident in the people who were looking after him," she said. "We can confirm that he has been released by his kidnappers and he is now in the hands of clan elders in Somalia."
Ford said no ransom was paid.
Barnard, a British citizen born in Zimbabwe, and a Somali employee of Save The Children were kidnapped from a guesthouse in Adabo last week. The Somali was freed within hours.
They were doing an exploratory survey for a planned program to help undernourished children.