Kidnapped Aussie leaves Somalia

Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan and his Canadian colleague have left
Somalia after more than a year in captivity, Somalia's national security minister
says.
Brennan and Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout left the Somali capital, Mogadishu,
in a chartered plane early on Thursday and flew to neighbouring Kenya, Mohamed
Abdullahi said.
Lindhout, her head covered with a black veil, and Brennan boarded the small private
plane at Mogadishu airport shortly after arriving there with a big security escort
made up of pro-government militia, witnesses said.
The plane took off about 0545 GMT (1645 AEDT).
Brennan and Lindhout made no public statement and journalists waiting at the airport
were not able to speak to the pair because they were in a convoy of vehicles full of
government soldiers and African Union peacekeepers.
Lindhout and Brennan, who were kidnapped in August 2008, were released on Wednesday,
with their families reportedly paying kidnappers a $US1 million ($A1.09 million)
ransom.
The pair was captured while en route from Mogadishu to visit a refugee camp in
Afgooye, a town just outside the capital.
Their Somali driver and two Somali guards were also taken but were released in January.
Brennan, 37, said the 15-month experience had "been pretty arduous", with the pair
suffering physical and mental torture.
Brennan's sister-in-law, Kellie Brennan, told reporters in Sydney on Thursday that
Brennan would undergo a medical check after travelling to a safe place.
"In terms of Nigel's physical health, he will receive a full medical check once they
are in a safe location," Kellie Brennan said.
"As soon as he is safe and fit to fly he will be coming home."
Journalists and humanitarian workers are frequently abducted for ransoms in Somalia,
one of the world's poorest and most war-torn countries.