§ 91. Mr. Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about the detention by force of David Hurd, a United Kingdom citizen, after his abduction into Somalia from Kenya; and what action he is taking to secure his release.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am happy to be able to tell the House that Mr. Hurd, who was reported by the Kenya authorities on 7th February to have been abducted by bandits, was found by the Somali police authorities near Kismayu in the Somali Republic on 14th February. His health and physical condition are reported good. In a Note received by the United States Embassy in Mogadishu, which had made inquiries at our request and on our behalf, the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that arrangements are in hand for the immediate hand-over of Mr. Hurd to the United States Embassy in Mogadishu. Mr. Hurd's family have been informed.
According to information received by the State Department, the Somali authorities have been most co-operative in tracing Mr. Hurd, and the Somali Prime Minister has given instructions that the kidnappers be prosecuted.