Westerners 'kidnapped' in Somalia

Islamic fighters have taken over a key port in Southern Somalia

An Australian journalist and his Canadian colleague have gone missing in Somalia and are feared to have been kidnapped along with their interpreter.

The pair failed to return to their hotel in the capital, Mogadishu, from a trip to see displaced people, according to a hotel official.

He named the two journalists, both freelancers, only as Nigel and Amanda.

The sister of the Somali journalist said she had been unable to reach the group by phone.

"We are not sure, but it seems that they were kidnapped", said Sadia Mohamed.

That view was echoed by the director of the hotel, Abdifatah Ajos Sanura.

"It is (clear) that they were kidnapped because their schedule was to come back to the hotel before 12 in the afternoon and we don't have their whereabouts", Mr Sanura said.

Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, and journalists and humanitarian workers are frequently kidnapped.

On Friday, Islamist fighters seized the strategic southern port of Kismayo from pro-government militia.