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British Couple Released by Somali Pirates

Photo: A. Wehliya - Paul and Rachel Chandler stand with Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed shortly after their release from kidnappers.

After just more than a year spent in Somalia, British citizens Paul and Rachel Chandler are finally going home. After a stop in Mogadishu to meet with the Somali prime minister, the two arrived at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport en route to their final destination: London.

The Chandlers were held near Adado, a town in central Somalia along the Ethiopian border.

Somalia's newly appointed prime minister, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, welcomed the Chandlers.
and said the couple was drained by their experience, but otherwise in good health. "They were in good spirits and they were happy to be alive and to have their freedom," he said.

The Chandlers will receive full medical examinations before returning to England.

"We are feeling very happy to be alive and happy to be here... among decent everyday people," Rachel Chandler said, adding they were "desperate to see family and friends" and thanking the Somalis who worked for their release. She explained they communicated with their captors using a Somali-English phrasebook.

Somali pirates kidnapped the couple on October 23 of last year, while they were sailing in their 38-foot yacht Lynn Revival off the coast of Seychelles.

Although no official figure has been released, the ransom paid to secure the couple's release is estimated to be nearly $1 million. It was gathered by family and friends and by members of the Somali diaspora. The British government has a strict policy of not paying any ransoms. The pirates had initially demanded seven million dollars.

The Chandlers are perhaps the highest profile hostages taken by Somali pirates in recent years. However, there are hundreds of hostages being held by Somali pirates - mainly crews of large tankers crossing the Indian Ocean. Analysts say the recent spike in ransoms paid for hijacked ships has triggered more piracy and increased the amount of time ships are being held by captors.

adapted from VOA and Yahoo News

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Obama in Indonesia (article)

Photo AP

President Barack Obama is in Indonesia for a less than one-day stay that includes talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and a planned address to the Indonesian people.

His visit is a sweet return for the president who spent several years of his boyhood living in Indonesia.

It began amid the sound of trumpets and a military gun salute as U.S. President Barack Obama stepped out of the presidential limousine at the presidential palace, the Istana Merdeka, and received a warm welcome from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Mr. Obama shook hands with Cabinet ministers and other officials before beginning bilateral talks with President Yudhoyono.

In a joint news conference, Mr. Obama said he is glad to be back in Indonesia. He said he is focused not on the past, but on a future of building a comprehensive relationship with the world's largest Muslim majority nation.

"As one of the world's largest democracies, as the largest economy in Southeast Asia, and as a member of the G20, as a regional leader, as a vast archipelago on the front lines of climate change, and as a society of extraordinary diversity, Indonesia is where many of the challenges and of the opportunities of the 21st century come together," said the president.

As he did on his previous stop in India, Mr. Obama said the United States is looking to strengthen alliances, deepen relationships with Asia, and re-engage with regional organizations such as ASEAN 9 (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) which Indonesia will chair next year.

Issues in talks with President Yudhoyono include regional and global economic matters, counter-terrorism, security cooperation, and anti-piracy efforts. Later the two leaders announced an agreement to boost cooperation in trade, education, clean energy and security.

This is a long-awaited trip for Mr. Obama, who was forced to postpone a visit twice earlier in the year due to domestic political and other issues. He said it is his hope to return to Indonesia for a longer stay.

Wednesday he will visit the Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, and make a speech to the Indonesian people at the University of Indonesia.

White House aides say President Obama's schedule will likely be shortened because ash from Mt. Merapi in central Java threatens further disruptions to air travel.

If that turns out to be the case, the president will depart earlier for Seoul South Korea, for the G20 summit.

adapted from VOA