* Two European hostages say they are well treated
* Kidnappers increase ransom demand to $4 million
Two European aid workers taken hostage by gunmen in Somalia earlier this week said on Friday they were unharmed, and the kidnappers increased their ransom demand to $4 million.
The Horn of Africa nation is one of the world's most dangerous places for humanitarian workers. Kidnapping is fairly common, but the gunmen generally treat their hostages well in the hope of receiving a sizeable ransom.
A Belgian doctor and a Dutch nurse working with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) were seized on Sunday after carrying out a nutrition study in south-central Somalia's Bakol region.
"We love our countries, families and friends very much and we hope we shall meet them soon. We urge them to find an urgent solution to our difficult situation," the Dutch captive told Reuters in a brief telephone call.
His Belgian colleague said: "We are in difficult condition ... but we are okay now. I can only say they treat us well ... Let me convey to my people that I'm okay now."
MSF has asked that their names not be published.
Attacks on relief organisations, normally blamed on clan militias or Islamist rebels, have forced many charities to scale back operations -- cutting their ability to help in a humanitarian crisis that is one of the world's most acute.
The captors of the two MSF workers had initially demanded $1 million to free them.
But a man who described himself as the gang's ringleader and gave his name as Nur, told Reuters they now wanted $4 million.
"We are not afraid of any group," he said by telephone.
The hardline Islamist al Shabaab rebels, who control the region where the kidnapping took place, have vowed to rescue the hostages by force if negotiations fail.
Source: Reuters
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