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Somali police arrest foreigners with cash 'for pirates' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Six foreigners have been arrested as they flew into Mogadishu with $3.6m (£2.2m) in cash, Somali police say. | Six foreigners have been arrested as they flew into Mogadishu with $3.6m (£2.2m) in cash, Somali police say. |
Three US citizens, two Kenyans and one Briton were detained in the capital, along with two aircraft, a spokesman told the BBC Somali service. | Three US citizens, two Kenyans and one Briton were detained in the capital, along with two aircraft, a spokesman told the BBC Somali service. |
The spokesman said investigations were ongoing and did not give more details. | The spokesman said investigations were ongoing and did not give more details. |
Unconfirmed reports say the money may have been a ransom payment for pirates who operate from Somalia, although they are mostly based in northern areas. | |
The AFP news agency quotes a security official as saying that one plane flew into Mogadishu, where the money was to be transferred to another aircraft which would deliver it elsewhere. | |
The Westerners arrested are understood to be white rather than of Somali origin. | |
Somalia has not had a strong national government for more than 20 years and money-laundering, piracy and militants groups have thrived in the country. | |
The UN-backed government is battling the al-Qaeda linked group al-Shabab in Mogadishu. | The UN-backed government is battling the al-Qaeda linked group al-Shabab in Mogadishu. |
Al-Shabab and other militant groups control much of southern and central Somalia. | Al-Shabab and other militant groups control much of southern and central Somalia. |
UN Security Council envoys are due to meet leaders of various Somali leaders in neighbouring Kenya later to discuss the country's future. | UN Security Council envoys are due to meet leaders of various Somali leaders in neighbouring Kenya later to discuss the country's future. |
Donor countries are dismayed at the power-struggle between Somalia's President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and speaker of parliament Hassan Sheikh Adam. | Donor countries are dismayed at the power-struggle between Somalia's President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and speaker of parliament Hassan Sheikh Adam. |
President Ahmed's term of office is due to expire in August. | President Ahmed's term of office is due to expire in August. |
He wants to extend it, while the speaker says MPs should hold elections for a new president. | He wants to extend it, while the speaker says MPs should hold elections for a new president. |
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