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UK: 'Specific Threat' in Somaliland

Urges Westerners to immediately evacuate

By the Associated Press

Posted Jan 27, 2013 8:59 AM CST

(AP) – British diplomats say that there is a specific threat to Westerners in the Somaliland region of Somalia and have urged any British citizens in the area to leave immediately. In a statement emailed to reporters today, the British Foreign Office did not go into any further detail but noted that "kidnapping for financial or political gain, motivated by criminality or terrorism" was a threat throughout the country. The new warning comes only days after Western governments urged their citizens in the Libyan city of Benghazi to leave in response to what was described as an imminent threat to Westerners.

"We are now aware of a specific threat to Westerners in Somaliland, and urge any British nationals who remain there against our advice to leave immediately," reads the statement, according to Reuters.

In this 2011 file photo, a prison guard stands near the wall of a prison in Berbera, Somaliland. Britain is asking all citizens to leave the area, citing a specific threat.
In this 2011 file photo, a prison guard stands near the wall of a prison in Berbera, Somaliland. Britain is asking all citizens to leave the area, citing a specific threat.   (AP Photo/ Katharine Houreld)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Rammrodd
Jan 27, 2013 1:20 PM CST
British citizens are under a greater threat on British streets by gangs of Somali immigrants.
finkster
Jan 27, 2013 12:17 PM CST
"Western governments urged their citizens in the Libyan city of Benghazi to leave in response to what was described as an imminent threat to Westerners." Didn't this administration go in and help the rebels of Libya so they could gain freedom and be our friends? Guess that didn't work out like they planned 
Blackbird
Jan 27, 2013 10:16 AM CST
Um, aren't westerners ALWAYS under threat in Somalia?

Copyright 2013 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 

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