Mogadishu hospitals looted

The two main hospitals in south Mogadishu have been looted of equipment and supplies such that they can no longer function properly, their directors said on Thursday. The culprits are believed to be hospital staff loyal to militia leader Hussein Aideed who have taken the valuables to sell. Dr Ali Robleh Warfa, director of Martini Hospital, said looters had stripped the main operating theatre of Swiss equipment valued at US $60,000 or more, AP reported. Dr Mohamed Hussein Abdi, director of Digfer Hospital, the largest in Somalia, said looters made off with the German-donated X-ray equipment as well as films, chemicals and spare parts.