Somalia: Italian hostages freed.

No word as to whether or not a ransom was paid.

Yolanda Occhipinti and Giuliano Paganini were being flown to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The pair were seized by armed gunmen during an attack on the offices of Italian aid agency Cooperazione Italiana Nord Sud in southern Somalia.

It was not clear if a ransom was paid to secure their release.

A Somali man, who was the head of the agency, was abducted at the same time but there was no immediate word on his fate.