This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8159574.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Somali Islamists ban UN agencies | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Somali militants accused of links to al-Qaeda have banned three United Nations agencies from operating in two southern towns they control. | Somali militants accused of links to al-Qaeda have banned three United Nations agencies from operating in two southern towns they control. |
| Members of al-Shabab also raided the offices of the UN Political Office for Somalia, the Development Programme and the Department of Safety and Security. | Members of al-Shabab also raided the offices of the UN Political Office for Somalia, the Development Programme and the Department of Safety and Security. |
| Al-Shabab accused the agencies of being enemies of Islam and Somali Muslims. | Al-Shabab accused the agencies of being enemies of Islam and Somali Muslims. |
| The UN brokered the deal which brought President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a moderate Islamist, to power in January. | |
| Although he has promised to introduce Sharia law, al-Shabab accuses him of being a Western stooge and stages frequent attacks on government targets. | |
| The UN has no permanent foreign staff in Somalia, but runs its operations from neighbouring Kenya. | |
| Staff unharmed | Staff unharmed |
| One unnamed UN staff member told Reuters news agency that armed militia had surrounded the compound in Baidoa and taken away three cars. | One unnamed UN staff member told Reuters news agency that armed militia had surrounded the compound in Baidoa and taken away three cars. |
| Another official told AFP news agency that al-Shabab members had "told staff not to worry, nobody will harm them". | Another official told AFP news agency that al-Shabab members had "told staff not to worry, nobody will harm them". |
| AFP reported that offices in the town of Wajid had also been targeted. | AFP reported that offices in the town of Wajid had also been targeted. |
| Other UN offices in both towns were not affected. | Other UN offices in both towns were not affected. |
| A statement broadcast on local radio from al-Shabab said the three UN organisations were "working against the benefit of the Somali Muslim population and against the establishment of an Islamic state in Somalia". | A statement broadcast on local radio from al-Shabab said the three UN organisations were "working against the benefit of the Somali Muslim population and against the establishment of an Islamic state in Somalia". |
| Al-Shabab and its allies control much of southern Somalia and swathes of the capital Mogadishu. | Al-Shabab and its allies control much of southern Somalia and swathes of the capital Mogadishu. |
| The group is currently holding two French security advisors, who were seized by gunmen in Mogadishu last week. |