UN condemns abduction of staff member in Mogadishu

Nairobi (9 August 2002) - The United Nations strongly condemns the continuing abduction of national project staff member Abdulkadir Mohamed Abikar -- currently being held in Mogadishu, Somalia -- and is demanding his immediate and unconditional release.
Mr. Abikar, the Officer-In-Charge of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) office in Mogadishu, was abducted while traveling to the office on the morning of Monday, 5 August 2002.

"This is a further criminal act against staff of the United Nations in Somalia, whose fundamental mandate is to do all that they can to support the Somali people," said Maxwell Gaylard, the UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator and Designated Official for UN Security in Somalia.

Mr. Gaylard called for the renewal of respect for the UN flag and all that it stands for in the promotion of peace and development, and for full protection and immunity of UN staff carrying out their duties.