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26 June 2011
Last updated at 11:54 ET
Somalia has pardoned three Britons convicted for bringing more than $3m (?2m) in cash illegally into the country.
An American and two Kenyans were also jailed with the trio last week, after they were arrested on 24 May shortly after arriving by plane in Mogadishu.
All six men, who have not been officially named, were pardoned by the president of the interim government.
The Foreign Office has not commented on the pardons or where the Britons are.
The cash they were carrying was allegedly to pay ransoms to pirates for ships they hold.
Cash retained Government spokesman Abdirahman Omar Osman said the six men would be freed after the court completed processing their release, and fines were paid.
"Because of their illegal arrival, the two planes were each fined $50,000 [?31,000]. And the $3.6m in cash has been taken by the government.
"They may fly today or tomorrow. It depends on their departure process," he said on Sunday.
The two men accused of carrying the cash received 15-year sentences and were also fined $15,000 (?9,000) each.
The other four men - two pilots and their assistants - received 10-year sentences and fined $10,000 (?6,000).
This is the first time Westerners have been sentenced for involvement in delivering ransoms. It is not clear why this group of men fell foul of the authorities.
The Somali government officially opposes the payment of ransoms, but the practice has become routine.
The UN says more than $110m in ransoms were paid to Somali pirates last year.
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An American and two Kenyans were also jailed with the trio last week, after they were arrested on 24 May shortly after arriving by plane in Mogadishu.
All six men, who have not been officially named, were pardoned by the president of the interim government.
The Foreign Office has not commented on the pardons or where the Britons are.
The cash they were carrying was allegedly to pay ransoms to pirates for ships they hold.
Cash retained Government spokesman Abdirahman Omar Osman said the six men would be freed after the court completed processing their release, and fines were paid.
"Because of their illegal arrival, the two planes were each fined $50,000 [?31,000]. And the $3.6m in cash has been taken by the government.
"They may fly today or tomorrow. It depends on their departure process," he said on Sunday.
The two men accused of carrying the cash received 15-year sentences and were also fined $15,000 (?9,000) each.
The other four men - two pilots and their assistants - received 10-year sentences and fined $10,000 (?6,000).
This is the first time Westerners have been sentenced for involvement in delivering ransoms. It is not clear why this group of men fell foul of the authorities.
The Somali government officially opposes the payment of ransoms, but the practice has become routine.
The UN says more than $110m in ransoms were paid to Somali pirates last year.
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