Somalia releases 3 Al-Jazeera journalists

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - The Al-Jazeera network says that Somalia's government has released three of its journalists, two days after they were arrested along with their driver by security forces.

Al-Jazeera said in a statement that Hamza Mohamed, a Somali-British journalist for Al-Jazeera's English service, and members of his crew were arrested upon their return from areas held by the Islamic extremists of al-Shabab. Mohamed had been in Somalia for a week on a reporting assignment.

The National Union of Somali Journalists welcomed the release of the journalists who were arrested near Somalia's capital Tuesday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said 59 journalists have been killed in Somalia since 1992, shortly after this Horn of Africa nation plunged into chaos.