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Islamists 'share French hostages' Islamists 'share French hostages'
(about 2 hours 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 hard-line 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 the 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.
Both groups are said to have links to al-Qaeda and have been reinforced by foreign fighters.Both groups are said to have links to al-Qaeda and have been reinforced by foreign fighters.
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. 'Bear responsibility'
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. The BBC's Somali Service editor Yusuf Garaad Omar says al-Shabab is known for being the more radical of the two groups.
'Good health' He says the hostage held by al-Shabab fighters is likely to face greater problems because they care little for their public image and have carried out killings on camera.
A group of gunmen dressed in military uniform seized the men on Tuesday morning and handed them over to the Hizbul-Islam group. class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8133127.stm">Meeting al-Shabab class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8057179.stm">Somali justice, Islamist-style
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. A group of gunmen dressed in military uniform seized the men on Tuesday morning and handed them over to Hizbul-Islam.
class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8133127.stm">Meeting al-Shabab class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8057179.stm">Somali justice - Islamist-style The move apparently sparked a row with al-Shabab, which 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 Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Omar urged the rebel groups not to politicise the situation.
"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. "So far, it remains a monetary issue, not a political one," he told AFP news agency.
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. Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, meanwhile, warned Hizbul-Islam they would "bear responsibility for any harmful action taken against the hostages".
Moderate Islamist Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was sworn in as president in January after UN-brokered peace talks. The French advisers were reportedly helping to train the forces of government, which has recently appealed for foreign help to tackle the Islamists.
He promised to introduce Sharia law but the hardliners accuse him of being a western stooge.
The French advisors were reportedly helping to train the forces of government, which has recently appealed for foreign help to tackle the Islamists.
The US last month confirmed that it has sent weapons to the government, which is also being protected by some 4,000 African Union troops in Mogadishu.The US last month confirmed that it has sent weapons to the government, which is also being protected by some 4,000 African Union troops in Mogadishu.
Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991.Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991.
Moderate Islamist Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was sworn in as president in January after UN-brokered peace talks.
He promised to introduce Sharia law but the hardliners accuse him of being a western stooge.