Somalia’s Islamist militant group of Al-Shabaab distributed foodstuffs confiscated from a warehouse run by the World Food Programme in central Somali town of Masagawaa, Radio Garowe reports.

According to Al-Shabaab commander in Galgadud region Sheikh Yussuf Sheikh Isse (Kaba-ku-tukade), the decision to release the food aid to the public was reached after the group captured the town on Friday.

"We distributed the food to some 150 needy families in Masagawaa," he said, adding that WFP is banned from the area under their control. The Somali Islamists accuse WFP and other aid groups of being "spies" for Western governments.

WFP was forced to stop its operations in southern regions because of the Al-Shabaab's threats.

The group captured three central Somali towns including Masagawaa after three days of fighting with arch-rival Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama militia.

The two sides have large presence in the central regions, however, several towns have changed hands frequently after fighters from the two groups clashed recently, causing large number of casualties, mostly combatants.

GAROWE ONLINE