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Somalia: UN pleads for release of staff kidnapped over the weekend Wed. June 25, 2008 08:17 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. - (SomaliNet) The United Nations on Monday pleaded for the release of a staff member kidnapped over the weekend near Mogadishu, bringing to nine the number of aid workers held in Somalia. Mark Bowden, United Nations Resident Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Somalia, called for "immediate and safe release" of Hasan Mohamed Ali, who headed the UN refugees agency office in the capital before being kidnapped overnight on Saturday from his residence. "Mr Ali's work has been critical in supporting internally displaced persons fleeing from violence and insecurity in Mogadishu and whose numbers are increasing daily," OCHA said in a statement. "His abduction threatens the whole humanitarian effort for Somali people in the displaced area and beyond." The statement said so far nine aid workers are currently held in Somalia and the aid community is "deeply concerned about continued abductions and attacks at a time when the needs of the Somali people are so great." Aid groups have scaled down operations in Somalia owing to increased insecurity, largely blamed on Islamist militants who have waged a deadly guerrilla war since they were ousted by joint Somali-Ethiopian forces in early 2007. 2,6-million Somalis are facing hunger due to acute food shortages spurred by a prolonged drought, insecurity and high inflation. The UN famine monitors have warned that the figure could hit 3,5-million by the end of 2008. Aid workers have been constantly targeted since the 1991 ousting of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre paved the way for a breakdown in the state machinery and a rise in factional warfare. A bloody power-struggle has defied numerous UN-backed bids to restore stability in this lawless nation which is home to up to 10-million people. - Sapa-AFP News Category: Somalia Latest Headlines Latest News Nigeria: Militants say know whereabouts of kidnappe... Somalia: President Yusuf urges MPs to work togethe... Somalia: Two civilians killed as Islamist rebels at... Somalia: Somali pirates release Filipino crew held ... India: Army evacuates over 120,000 amidst flood scare... US plans to divert some marines from Iraq to Afghani... Zimbabwe: President Mugabe ready to form a new gov’t... Somalia: Muslim nations urged to step up aid to war... Sri Lanka: 36 rebels killed as gov’t troops, rebels c... Ethiopia: President Meles considers withdrawing... More News...