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| Islamists 'share French hostages' | Islamists 'share French hostages' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Two French security advisers seized in Somalia this week have been split up and are now being held by two different hardline groups, reports say. | Two French security advisers seized in Somalia this week have been split up and are now being held by two different hardline groups, reports say. |
| The pair were snatched by gunmen from a Mogadishu hotel on Tuesday and were being held by the Hizbul-Islam group. | The pair were snatched by gunmen from a Mogadishu hotel on Tuesday and were being held by the Hizbul-Islam group. |
| But officials say the al-Shabab group wanted them and after a row, Hizbul-Islam handed one of the men over. | But officials say the al-Shabab group wanted them and after a row, Hizbul-Islam handed one of the men over. |
| Al-Shabab has recently carried out several beheadings, amputations and stonings in areas it controls. | Al-Shabab has recently carried out several beheadings, amputations and stonings in areas it controls. |
| They are allied with Hizbul-Islam against the UN-backed interim government and together control much of southern Somalia. | They are allied with Hizbul-Islam against the UN-backed interim government and together control much of southern Somalia. |
| A BBC East Africa correspondent, Peter Greste, says kidnappings in Somalia are normally about the negotiation of ransom payments rather than making violent points about foreign interference. | A BBC East Africa correspondent, Peter Greste, says kidnappings in Somalia are normally about the negotiation of ransom payments rather than making violent points about foreign interference. |
| Meeting al-Shabab class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8057179.stm">Somali justice - Islamist-style | |
| But he says this abduction has diplomats worried because making a point about foreign support for the government might be more valuable than demanding a cash payout. | But he says this abduction has diplomats worried because making a point about foreign support for the government might be more valuable than demanding a cash payout. |
| A group of gunmen dressed in military uniform seized the men on Tuesday morning and handed them over to the Hizbul-Islam group. | A group of gunmen dressed in military uniform seized the men on Tuesday morning and handed them over to the Hizbul-Islam group. |
| The move apparently sparked a row with the al-Shabab militants, who managed to persuade the other group to hand over one of the hostages. | |
| An unnamed al-Shabab militant told Reuters the two men had been shared "to avoid clashes between Islamists". | An unnamed al-Shabab militant told Reuters the two men had been shared "to avoid clashes between Islamists". |
| Somali Social Affairs Minister Mohammed Ali Ibrahim told French media the government was trying to free the men. | Somali Social Affairs Minister Mohammed Ali Ibrahim told French media the government was trying to free the men. |
| "The Shabab party took one of the two hostages and the other is in the hands of the Hizbul-Islam, but we're in negotiations with them and we're hoping for a positive result," he said. | "The Shabab party took one of the two hostages and the other is in the hands of the Hizbul-Islam, but we're in negotiations with them and we're hoping for a positive result," he said. |
| Mr Ibrahim said that Somalia's prime minister had spoken to one of the hostages who was being held in Mogadishu and said they are apparently in good health. | |
| Both groups are said to have links to al-Qaeda. | Both groups are said to have links to al-Qaeda. |
| Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991. | Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991. |