Rebels attack WFP compound in southern Somalia

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Suspected Islamist rebels attacked a U.N. World Food Program (WFP) compound in southern Somalia, witnesses said on Monday, but U.N. guards fought back and shot dead three of the assailants.One U.N. official said about 10 heavily armed men attacked them overnight in Wajid, 70 km (40 miles) northwest of Baidoa."After several minutes shooting our security guards repulsed the attackers and killed three of them," the official told Reuters, adding that one guard at the compound was injured."We don't know what they planned, but we think they wanted to take over the whole compound and kidnap foreign aid workers."
Another U.N. official said nine foreign aid workers staying in Wajid were evacuated at dawn to neighboring Kenya.The WFP spokesman in Nairobi, Peter Smerdon, said the nine foreign staff were from Uganda, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Nepal, the Netherlands, Kenya, Albania and Britain.
"WFP commends its guards for their actions in defending the compound and U.N. staff. Talks are under way with the local community and local administration to calm the situation," Smerdon said...more..http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE57G0SJ20090817