Two French citizens kidnapped in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia, July 14 (UPI) -- Gunmen disguised as Somali police officers Tuesday kidnapped two French citizens from the Sahafi Hotel in Mogadishu, witnesses said.

The two men were guests at the hotel, located in the southern part of Mogadishu controlled by pro-government forces, Shabelle Media Network reported.

The hotel, located near the military bases of African Union troops, is popular with foreign visitors and government workers.

The kidnappings came after two days of heavy fighting between government forces and Islamist insurgents in the northern part of Mogadishu, Shabelle reported.