US 'to aid Islamist areas of famine-hit Somalia'

The US has said it will send aid to famine-hit areas of Somalia controlled by the Islamist group al-Shabab.

But US aid officials say assurances must be given that the insurgents will not interfere with its distribution.

"The question is whether al-Shabab... will allow its people to access the critical humanitarian resources", US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said.