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Somali gunmen storm UN compound Somali aid stopped after kidnap
(about 2 hours later)
The UN World Food Programme's top representative in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, has been abducted after gunmen stormed the UN compound. The UN says it has stopped distributing food in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, after government troops abducted the local head of the World Food Programme.
The WFP told the BBC that it strongly protests about the incident and demands Idris Osman's immediate release. The WFP says about 60 soldiers stormed the UN compound and no explanation has been given for Idris Osman's detention.
An unnamed UN official told Reuters and AFP news agencies that government forces were involved in the raid. On Monday, the WFP started distributing food in Mogadishu through mosques, with the agreement of the regional governor.
Somalia has seen a violent surge since the Islamists were ousted last December by Ethiopian-backed government forces. Unrest since the ousting of Islamists in December has displaced thousands of people in and around the capital.
WFP has not received any explanation for this action, which violates international law WFP statement Political swords are drawn
The BBC's Adam Mynott in neighbouring Kenya says there is a history of tension between the interim government in Somalia and the WFP, which is the biggest UN agency operating in the country.The BBC's Adam Mynott in neighbouring Kenya says there is a history of tension between the interim government in Somalia and the WFP, which is the biggest UN agency operating in the country.
The WFP provides emergency food relief to more than two million Somalis.The WFP provides emergency food relief to more than two million Somalis.
Showdown looms Debate halted
"UN WFP can confirm that Mr Idris Osman was detained in Mogadishu," WFP spokesman Peter Smerdon is quoted by Reuters as saying. "Mr Osman is being held in a cell at National Security Service (NSS) headquarters near the presidential palace. WFP has not received any explanation for this action, which violates international law," the WFP said in a statement.
The kidnapping comes two days after the UN started providing food assistance to more than 75,000 people in the capital through mosques identified by the local governor, the agency said.
It had resumed the distributions after it was forced by violence to suspend them in June.
"In the light of Mr Osman's detention and in view of WFP's duty to safeguard its staff, WFP is forced immediately to suspend these distributions and the loading of WFP food from our warehouses in the Somali capital," it said.
On Tuesday, Mogadishu witnessed some of the worst fighting since the Union of Islamic Courts, who ruled much of Somalia for six months last year, were driven from power.
Mr Yusuf (l) and his prime minister (r) no longer see eye to eyeMr Yusuf (l) and his prime minister (r) no longer see eye to eye
A UN official who asked not to be named told AFP news agency that Mr Osman had been taken to the presidential palace area of the city. Meanwhile in Baidoa, where parliament sits, the speaker has halted a debate where MPs were considering the future of the government.
"About 30 Somali government forces in two military trucks and armed with machine guns have raided the UN headquarters, forcefully entered the offices and arrested Idris Mohamed Osman," he said. President Abdullahi Yusuf wants parliament to sack Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi as he says his term has expired according to the federal charter.
The kidnapping comes the day after Mogadishu witnessed some of the worst fighting since the Union of Islamic Courts, who ruled much of Somalia for six months last year, were driven from power. But the speaker of parliament told MPs that the African Union and Ethiopia have asked for the debate to be stopped as Mr Ghedi has been called to Addis Ababa to try and resolve the rift with President Yusuf.
Meanwhile in Baidoa, where parliament sits, security is tight as MPs meet to consider the future of the government. Both Mr Ghedi and Mr Yusuf ascended to power with the backing of Ethiopia but have fallen out over reports that they favoured rival concerns interested in oil exploration contracts.
President Abdullahi Yusuf wants parliament to sack the prime minister.
Mr Yusuf and Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi have been lobbying for support among MPs for the past week ahead of the parliamentary debate.
Both men ascended to power with the backing of Ethiopia but have fallen out over reports that they favoured rival concerns interested in oil exploration contracts.
Analysts say the crisis threatens to leave Somalia with two governments.
President Yusuf and his allies argue that Mr Ghedi's term has expired according to the federal charter - but the prime minister disputes this.
Despite having international support, diplomats argue that the transitional government has failed to set up institutions to reconstruct the country.Despite having international support, diplomats argue that the transitional government has failed to set up institutions to reconstruct the country.
The UN's special envoy for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, has warned that the move may derail the peace process. The UN's special envoy for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, has warned that a vote of no confidence may derail the peace process.