Nairobi, April 11 (IANS): Kenya has directed the UN refugee agency to relocate thousands of Somali refugees living in the northern region of the East African nation following increased terror threats in the country.

Deputy President William Ruto said the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has been given three months to relocate refugees from the Dadaab refugee camp, the world's largest refugee settlement, to help reduce terror threats, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The relevant bodies have three months, starting today, to relocate all the refugees from the camp," Ruto directed from Nyeri, central Kenya.

Kenya has for many years hosted tens of thousands of Somali refugees, fleeing fighting in central and southern Somalia.

Nairobi, which hosted protracted negotiations that culminated in the formation of the transitional federal government of Somalia, said the refugee situation continued to pose security threats to Kenya and the region apart from the humanitarian crisis.

Ruto said that the camp has been suspected of harbouring terrorists who plan and carry out attacks in Kenya.

He said should the refugees not be relocated within the given period, the government would take necessary steps to remove them from the area.

Early in the week, leaders from northern Kenya called on the government to shut down the camp or relocate it to Somalia, saying that it has been used as a breeding ground for terrorists.

Ruto's directive came even as more refugees continue flooding the camp especially from the Horn of Africa nation.

The East African nation is also hosting nearly half a million refugees from Somalia and has delayed their repatriation until the security situation in the country improves further.