A boat carrying at least 10 foreign nationals has washed ashore in central Somalia in a region controlled by the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group, witness tell Al Jazeera.

All on board the stricken boat - which came ashore near the town of El Dheer in Galgaduud region - were led away by masked fighters from the group to unknown location, a witness speaking on condition of anonymity because of fear of retaliation by the group said.

Several of those on board were thought to be Iranian nationals. The boat is said to have been carrying fuel.