Islamists destroy 'expired' food aid in Somalia

Saturday 21 August 2010 00:00 BST

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Islamist fighters in Somalia have seized food from the World Food Programme (WFP) from markets in Mogadishu and burnt more than 500 bags of maize and wheat.

Sheikh Ali Mohamed Hussein, a leader of the al-Shabab militant group, said the food was expired. A WFP spokesman said the group does not distribute expired food.

"We will check what is left in the markets to take care of the health of our people," Hussein said.

Photographs of the burning showed white bags of wheat bearing an American flag and the stamp USAID, the US government's aid arm. Other bags were stamped World Food Programme. One photograph showed what appeared to be old, clumpy maize.

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Islamists destroy 'expired' food aid in Somalia

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