MOGADISHU (Sunatimes) Somalia diaspora communities in abroad welcomed the release of the British couple Paul and Rachel Chandler from the hands of the pirates as a positive step towards the right direction, Somali leading diaspora compaigner said on Sunday.

"We are happy about of the news of the couples' release and we were really very concerned about their long hostage. As diaspora people in Europe, we are thanking to all those involved in the efforts of securing the freedom Paul and Rachel Chandler." Fowzia Hajji Yousuf, president of Somali UK charity told Sunatimes.

Somalis in UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Scandinavians expressed their happiness over the release of the British couple. "The Somalis in Europe are now in happy mood by the time the elderly British couple were freed, safe and sound," Ismael Hajji Nor, Somali British, the head of anti piracy of Galmudug state in central Somalia said.

 The release of the British couple on Sunday come after the payment of unspecified ransom amount of money. "Paul and Rachel Chandler were handed over to out administration and they are now free and safe." Mohamed Aden Ticey, the president of Hebin and Heeb regional state in central Somalia said.

The retired British couple, who have been kidnapped on October 23, 2009 by the Somali pirates as they were travelling on their yacht in the indian Ocean off Seychelles, are now in Adado town where they will be flown to Nairobi, Kenya.

Typically, the Somali pirates hijack all the vessels on the Indian Oceans and then held the ships in coastal towns in Somalia till ransom is paid. this has been common trade by the pirates despite heavy presence of anti piracy foreign Navy war ships on Somali waters.