Somalia: Kidnappers of UNCHR official demand ransom-relatives

(SomaliNet) The relatives of the kidnapped UNHCR official Dr Hasan Muhammad Ali kaynan, say that people claiming to be holding the officials contacted them.

The uncle of the abducted UNHCR chief, Sultan Osman Abdullahi Wajer, told Mareeg online that the group holding him had contacted them four days ago. The official is being held for a period.

The group didn’t reveal their identity, however, told the Sultan that that the UNHCR officials used to work for non-Muslims.

The group told the Sultan that they haven\'t found out most of the allegations leveled against him, but proofed minor ones.

He said that the group seemed to be asking money.

“In one of the days, may be three or four day s ago, we asked some men presumably of his whereabouts, In fact, they told us that they were holding him, but they neither revealed their identity nor the area he is being held” the sultan said” They said that the reason for holding him was that he works for non-Muslims, and that they don\'t have relations with the non-Muslims.

The unknown groups are holding the UNHCR official in Somali capital Mogadishu for a period of one month. He was abducted from his home, which is situated in Elasha Biyaha area [displaced peoples\' camp on the outskirts of Mogadishu] late last month.

Several other aid workers have been held captive for months, and the World Food Programme (WFP) has seen three of its drivers slain this year. –Mareeg