One of the Australian media's best kept secrets has been revealed, after almost a year.
For 11 months, news organisations have kept quiet about the fate of a Queensland photo-journalist who is being held hostage in Somalia.
Nigel Brennan's work as a photo journalist saw him leave Australia in August last year, happy and healthy. But just a month later he became a crumpled captive of Somali warlords.
He'd been kidnapped at gunpoint and held with a Canadian journalist for a US$1 million ransom.
Despite his terrifying ordeal, Brennan's story hasn't been covered in Australia. In a rare show of co-operation, news organisations agreed to an Australian Government request not to report on his plight - to avoid jeopardising the efforts to free him.
But after nearly a year of no progress, relatives have broken their silence urging the Prime Minister to do more.
Mr Brennan’s friend Rebecca Hutchins said “I just don't feel that those strategies are being effective and therefore we need to look at other options.”
Brennan's mother demanded a meeting with the Prime Minister. She got it last night.
The meeting, behind closed doors, went for 20 minutes.
Ms Hutchins said “That's quite amazing there's been no contact from the Prime Minister at all and yet the family have received a letter from the Somalia president.”
The Foreign Minister Stephen Smith doesn't think the media attention will help.
“They're making judgements and decisions in the pain and the agony of a son or brother who's been missing, kidnapped for 11 months.”
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd argues he's been heavily involved, behind the scenes.
“If I was to look at the consular cases upon which I have spent the most time since I've been Prime Minister, this is the one.”
While the government is hopeful Brennan will be released, the organisation ‘Reporters Without Borders’ rates Somalia as Africa's deadliest country for journalists and aid workers.
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