**Two foreign journalists kidnapped in Somalia by militants in August 2008 have been freed by their captives.**Canadian Amanda Lindhout and Australian Nigel Brennan are reported to be in a hotel in the capital Mogadishu.
Ms Lindhout told the Associated Press the pair were in good health and could not believe they were free.
Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, and journalists and humanitarian workers are frequently kidnapped.
During the phone call to the news agency, Ms Lindhout said: “We sent our family and friends a message that we are free and will be with them soon after a long time in captivity.”
Lawmaker Botan Isse Alin, who, along with police, is in the hotel with the pair, said he was happy they had been released.
Officials spent eight days seeking their release, the Reuters news agency reported.
Giving very few details about how their release was secured, Somali MP Ahmed Diiriye said they were handed over by militia.
The freelance journalists had been working for Western media organisations when they were captured.
Alarm raised
Somali journalist and interpreter Abdifatah Mohammed Elmi, and their two Somali drivers were also kidnapped at the same time, but they were released in January.
They were taken following a trip to visit displaced people outside the city.
The alarm was raised when they failed to return to their hotel after a few hours.
Photojournalist Mr Brennan had only been in the country for a week when the kidnapping happened.
It is not known if a ransom was paid for their release.
Earlier this year British journalist Colin Freeman and Spanish photographer Jose Cendon were released after being held by Somali kidnappers for 40 days.