Australian High Commission
Canada
Address: Suite 710, 50 O'Connor Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2 - Tel: 613-236-0841 - Fax: 613-236-4376

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION
OTTAWA

MEDIA RELEASE

RELEASE OF NIGEL BRENNAN

26 November 2009

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith released the following statement today:
 
I welcome very much that Australian citizen Nigel Brennan and Canadian Amanda Lindhout have been released from captivity in Somalia.

They arrived safely in Nairobi, Kenya shortly before 2pm Nairobi time 26 November (10pm AEST 26 November).

They were met on arrival and are in the company of Australian and Canadian officials.

As Nigel’s family has said publicly, he will now receive a full medical check-up.
Australians will be pleased and relieved that after a long period of captivity, Nigel will now return safely to his family.

Nigel and his family have suffered a terrible ordeal. As his family made clear yesterday, the focus will now be on Nigel’s well-being.

Nigel’s family has worked tirelessly and with great courage to achieve his release.

As Nigel’s family has done, I thank the Australian media for their cooperation in their reporting of this very difficult situation.

Media inquiries: Mr Smith's office +61 2 6277 7500
Departmental Media Liaison +61 2 6261 1555