U.N. humanitarian official Mark Bowden said Wednesday that U.N. agencies have not seen any evidence from the U.S. government that food aid is being diverted to Islamists fighting the U.N.-backed Somali government.

The U.S. reduced its funding to Somalia last year after its Office of Foreign Assets Control expressed fear that the extended supply line and areas where aid agencies were operating meant aid could be diverted to a group with links to al-Qaida.

Bowden said agencies were being asked to comply with impractical requirements by the U.S. but declined to give details.

Source: AP