MOGADISHU(Mareeg)—Eritrea’s President Issaias Efewerki has reportedly pressured on Sheik Hassan Dahir Awey, the leader of Hizbul Islam insurgent group to help free the two French hostages kidnapped by Somali gunmen on Tuesday from their Hotel in Mogadishu, sources said on Sunday.

The two French hostages were first handed over to Hizbul Islam, but after one day  of captivity al Shabaab has taken the hostages from Hizbul Islam.

Sheik Aweys, Hizbul Islam leader(File)

France has requested from Eritrea to pressure Islamist rebels to free the men.

Eritrea supports the group Hizbul Islam led by Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys. Sources close to Sheik Aweys say he told Eritrea’s President Issaias Efewerki that the French men were not in his groups’ hands any longer since al Shabaab took it, but  Efwerki said that he would stop his support to the group if they fail to free the French men.

A Spokesmen for al Shabaab said on Saturday that they would trail the two French agents under Sharia ,but  confirmed reports suggest that al Shabaab took the French men to Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia.

Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys lived in exile in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea for two years during the occupation of the Ethiopian troops.