Somalia: Transitional Government Assembly Member Kidnapped

A member of the Transitional National Assembly (TNA) was kidnapped on Wednesday, sources in Mogadishu told IRIN. Four armed men abducted Muhammad Abdi Gas as he was walking near the KM 4 area in south Mogadishu. Local sources blamed the kidnapping on supporters of faction leader Usman Hasan Ali Ato. The kidnappers were hired after claims that the MP owed money, the source said. Ato is one of the main Mogadishu opposition faction leaders.

Gas, from the northwest, is the second MP to be kidnapped since the interim government moved to Mogadishu last October. Abdirahman Dua'le Ali, also from the northwest, was kidnapped in January, and was also accused by his abductors of owing them money. Another TNA member, Hasan Ahmad Ilmi, was gunned down in his house last November.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.