Mogadishu, July 15, 2009, 4:26 PM-ET, (SOMINA- Efforts are underway to release two French secret service agents kidnapped by Somali gunmen in the capital Mogadishu, Minister said Wednesday.

The duo has been taken hostage by the hard-line Islamists rebels fighting the government in the capital according to sources.

 “The two French citizens had been guest for the Somali government in the past days and they were kidnapped unexpectedly by gangs from the hotel they stayed”, Sheik Abdulkadir Ali Omar, Somali interior minister said in a press conference.

“We have more information regarding the kidnappers and we expect them to be brought to justice as more investigations are still going on”, he said.

Mr. Omar also denied that the government forces involved the incident which took place near the headquarters of the Somali CID.

“Any information that indicates Somali government forces are involved the case is baseless and propaganda” he added.

The minister also said that efforts are under way to release the hostages.

MB-MF/MA