MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali gunmen on Tuesday kidnapped two foreign contractors working for a project funded by the United Nations in southern Somalia, one of their colleagues said.
"One Briton and one Kenyan working for the U.N.'s FAO (Foodand Agriculture Organisation) were kidnapped by clan militiamensomewhere between Bule and Sakow towns in Middle Jubbaprovince," a Somali aid worker, who asked not to be named, toldReuters.
"We understand that the British man was wounded during anexchange of gunfire between the Somali bodyguards and themilitia," he added.
The aid worker said the two had been working for theFAO-funded Somalia Water and Land Information Managementproject.
FAO officials in Rome and a British Foreign Officespokesman in London said they were investigating the report.
The attack was the latest sign of insecurity in the lawlessHorn of African nation where the interim government is battlingIslamist-led insurgents.
(Reporting by Aweys Yusuf; editing by Sami Aboudi)
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