Garowe — A group of armed men who targeted two foreign-born journalists in northern Somalia on Monday "wanted to kidnap" them, according to an official with the regional administration of Puntland.

Bile Qabowsade, an adviser to Puntland leader Gen. Adde Muse, was with the two journalists from France at the time of the attack.

He told Radio Garowe that seven armed men opened gunfire while he and the two French journalists were standing near Hotel International Village, in the port city of Bossaso, around noon Monday.

Puntland police who were guarding the French journalists exchanged gunfire with the attackers for a few minutes. One of the police officers was wounded and the attackers fled, Mr. Qabowsade said.

Earlier this month, four Europeans were kidnapped by suspected pirates in Sanaag region, which is disputed between Puntland and Somaliland administrations. The kidnappers have demanded a US$1 million ransom to release the hostages.