UN staff member still held by abductors

The United Nations staff member, Rolf Helmrich, who was abducted by militias in the Lower Juba region of southern Somalia last week, should be released immediately and unconditionally, the UN has demanded.

Helmrich, a German national, was abducted at 11:30 GMT on 29 January at a point about 45 km north of the regional capital, Kismayo. Sources in Kismayo told IRIN the next day that the Juba Valley Alliance, the faction which controls the area, had set up roadblocks "to limit the abductors' ability to move around".

In a statement issued in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi on Monday, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Somalia, Maxwell Gaylard, condemned the actions of the militia group responsible for the abduction.

"It is particularly unfortunate that this should happen at a time when Somalis are at last beginning to move towards peace and reconciliation with the support of the international community," he said. "Helmrich and his UN and other international colleagues are working tirelessly with Somali partners towards the realisation of a better future for the Somali people."

Somali faction leaders - after more than 14 months of talks - signed an agreement in Nairobi on 29 January which is widely expected to ease tensions and pave the way for the establishment of an all-inclusive, recognised government in this largely lawless country.

Helmrich is the latest of several aid workers to be abducted by militias allied to Somalia's rival factions over the past few years. The militias often demand a ransom before releasing their abductees.