Islamist insurgents in Somalia are holding two French men kidnapped in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Tuesday after the hostages were handed over to them by the hijackers, an insurgent official confirmed Wednesday.

This comes as efforts by the Somali government to secure the release of the hostages who were security advisers to the government while initial statements by the management of the hotel where the two French men stayed said that they were journalists.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2009)