Somali government struggles to rescue UN workers held by Al-Shabab

The Somali government said it was working to rescue passengers from a UN helicopter captured by Al Shabaab militants, local media reported.

The U.N.-contracted helicopter was conducting an air medical evacuation when a technical problem forced it to make an emergency landing near Hindhere village in central Somalia, an area controlled by the militants.

At least eight people were taken hostage by the militants.

“The government has been undertaking efforts to rescue the crew since yesterday when the accident happened, and efforts still go on,” Reuters quotes Information Minister Daud Aweis as saying.

However, military officers said it would be difficult to access the area where they were taken.