Somali Gunmen Steal U.N. Food Aid

Somali gunmen attacked and hijacked a U.N. food convoy and later sold the supplies, witnesses said Sunday.

The attack took place as the World Food Program convoy carrying 60 tons of maize and cooking oil was crossing the so-called Green Line dividing the two halves of war-torn Mogadishu.

The gunmen fired warning shots at the drivers and commandeered two of the vehicles to their base at the former Italian Embassy building. There were no reports of injuries and gunmen assigned to guard the convoy did not return fire.

Banditry is common in Somalia, which disintegrated along clan lines after the ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in January 1991.

Residents in north Mogadishu said the gunmen had sold the food to Somali businessmen in Manapolio market, where some of the supplies appeared for sale Sunday.