Somalia's Islamist group Al Shabaab has banned the operation of three international relief agencies they accused of "actively propagating Christianity" in the war-torn country.

A statement posted on the radical group's website said the US- based World Vision, ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency), and Swedish agency of Diakonia, were banned from working within Somalia. "The aforementioned organizations have been found to be actively propagating Christianity in this Muslim country," said the statement issued by Al Shabaab's Office for Supervising the Affairs of Foreign Agencies (OSAFA).

The Islamist group which is waging a deadly insurgency against the Somali government has previously banned a number of UN agencies as well as media outlets operating in the war ravaged country after the group claimed the organizations were involved in "anti-Islam activities."

Al Shabaab said in the statement that the three agencies which have been working in Somalia, were "acting as missionaries under the guise of humanitarian work" while at the same time spreading what they termed as "corrupted ideologies in order to taint the pure creed of the Muslims in Somalia." "Along with their missionary work, the proliferation of corruption and indecency has become prevalent as a result of their presence," the statement added.

The Islamist group which controls much of south and center of Somalia warned of prompt closure for other agencies found to be engaged in similar activities and those trying to carry on the work of the banned organization will face unspecified "appropriate disciplinary measure."

The propagation of the Christian faith is unacceptable in Islam as well as in the Muslim society, the statement stressed.

The Islamist group, which is listed as a terrorist entity by several world governments including the US, is fighting to topple the weak but internationally recognized government of Somalia and establish an Islamic state in the east African country.