Efforts are continuing to free an Irish aid worker abducted at gunpoint in Ethiopia on Monday.
Dónal Ó Suilleabháin
Donal Ó 'Súilleabháin (41) from Colgagh, Co Sligo, was working as a hydrogeologist for the Irish Red Cross when he was kidnapped along with an Ethiopian colleague just north of Gode, in the remote south-eastern Ogaden area.
A spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross said they had made contact with the organisation behind the kidnapping. They were satisfied the two detainees were safe and not being mistreated. Negotiations are ongoing to secure their release, he said.
Yesterday a kidnap negotiator and Mr Ó Súilleabháin's brother, Eoghan, who is an aid worker with Goal, flew to Ethiopia to help with the diplomatic efforts.
Minister for Foreign Affaris Dermot Ahern yesterday ordered a senior officer from London who is experienced in negotiating in kidnap situations to travel to Addis Ababa and help Irish embassy officials there.
Irish Red Cross chairman and former minister for foreign affairs David Andrews appealed to Somali locals to "ask those who hold them to release them as an act of generosity and decency in response to our generous and decent response to them over the years".
Mr Andrews said he was unaware of any demands, financial or political, from the abductors but ruled out the possibility of money being handed over.
"There's no question of ransom," he said. "We are a charity. And charities by definition are not in the ransom business."