17.03.09

09:55

According to the information provided to Trend News with Agshin Mehdiyev, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the UN by telephone from New York, condition of the hostage Miragi Babayev is normal.

According to Mediyev, our compatriot had not been subjected to violence by the Somali kidnappers.

With regard to the fate of Babayeva, postpred of Azerbaijan to the UN said that at this moment he is in the representation of the organization in Somalia, and may continue its activities in that country.

The incident occurred early morning hours of today in the area of Wajid town, located 200 kilometers south of Mogadishu. The militants attacked the vehicle, which was carrying the staff of the World Food Program and UN Development Program to the local airport.
According to the UN in 2008 in Somalia there were killed 35 members of the organization, arrived in the country with a humanitarian mission, 26 were abducted. In 2009 in Somalia there were killed two UN staff.

Since 1991, Somalia remains without a central government. The country and its territorial waters there are gangsters involved in looting, killing and kidnapping of foreign nationals.

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16.03.09

17:22

Azerbaijani citizen Miraga Babayev is among the hostages in Somali, the Azerbaijani permanent representative to UN reported to Trend News over phone from New York.

"I would not like to talk about the details because any information could damage the case. We are taking all the necessary measures," Azerbaijani permanent representative to UN Akshin Mekhtiyev said.

An Azerbaijani citizen was taken hostage in Somalia, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization told ITAR-TASS today.

"I can say only that four people were taken hostage, one of them is a citizen of Somalia, while three were from the international staff, "said Blalok.

The incident occurred this morning in Wajid, Mogadiscio. Militants attacked a vehicle carrying UN World Food Program and Development Program staff on the way to the local airport.

Earlier, it was reported that a Russian citizen may be among the hostages. The Russian Embassy in Kenya later denied the information

"At the moment we have no official data on whether there was Russians or the CIS citizens amongst the hostages," Russian Embassy in Kenya Consular Department head Armen Popov told Trend News over phone from Nairobi.

"We now are taking steps to clarify the matter. But we have no exact information at the moment," said Popov

The Azerbaijani Embassy to Italy is investigating the incident and contacting FAO to reveal the citizenship of the hostage.

/Trend News/