Islamic militants with alleged links to al-Qaida looted two United Nations compounds in southern Somalia and said they would ban three UN agencies from operating in areas they controlled.

Somalia's Islamic movement abandoned the nation's capital today and clan militiamen poured into the streets to take control of Mogadishu, as government forces approached to within 18 miles.

The top UN official for Somalia today called on the world to do everything possible to prevent war in Somalia and help 1.8 million people there in dire need of help.

The UN today said that international staff had been temporarily pulled out of parts of Somalia controlled by Islamic radicals after receiving “direct written threats”.