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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Top Somali Islamist 'surrenders' | Top Somali Islamist 'surrenders' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| One of Somalia's Islamist leaders has given himself up to the Kenyan authorities, a Kenyan police source has told the BBC. | One of Somalia's Islamist leaders has given himself up to the Kenyan authorities, a Kenyan police source has told the BBC. |
| Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, seen as a moderate, surrendered in the north-eastern Kenyan town of Wajir, the policeman said. | Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, seen as a moderate, surrendered in the north-eastern Kenyan town of Wajir, the policeman said. |
| The US and the UN have urged the Somali government to seek reconciliation with moderate Islamists, such as Mr Ahmed. | The US and the UN have urged the Somali government to seek reconciliation with moderate Islamists, such as Mr Ahmed. |
| The Islamists were driven out of the capital, Mogadishu, last month. | The Islamists were driven out of the capital, Mogadishu, last month. |
| Ethiopian forces helped the government oust the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), who had taken control of much of southern Somalia. | Ethiopian forces helped the government oust the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), who had taken control of much of southern Somalia. |
| But the government says some 3,500 Islamist fighters remain in Mogadishu. | But the government says some 3,500 Islamist fighters remain in Mogadishu. |
| POSSIBLE PEACEKEEPERS Nine battalions proposed - up to 9,000 troops:Uganda: 1,500 troops offered, subject to parliamentary approvalMalawi: Up to 1,000 troops offeredTanzania: ConsideringNigeria: ConsideringRwanda: ConsideringSouth Africa: Considering but forces stretched Profile: Sheikh Ahmed | POSSIBLE PEACEKEEPERS Nine battalions proposed - up to 9,000 troops:Uganda: 1,500 troops offered, subject to parliamentary approvalMalawi: Up to 1,000 troops offeredTanzania: ConsideringNigeria: ConsideringRwanda: ConsideringSouth Africa: Considering but forces stretched Profile: Sheikh Ahmed |
| Mr Ahmed is the first Somali Islamist leader to be captured since the UIC was ousted in December. It is not clear whether he was on his own. | |
| He has been flown to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where he is reportedly under police guard in a hotel. | |
| It is understood that the Kenyan authorities are in discussions with the United States about what should happen to him now. | It is understood that the Kenyan authorities are in discussions with the United States about what should happen to him now. |
| But the US denies it is questioning him. | But the US denies it is questioning him. |
| "The US government is not holding or interrogating Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and was not involved in his capture or surrender," a US embassy official said, reading from a prepared statement. | "The US government is not holding or interrogating Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and was not involved in his capture or surrender," a US embassy official said, reading from a prepared statement. |
| The US accused Islamist hardliners of working with al-Qaeda - charges they denied. | The US accused Islamist hardliners of working with al-Qaeda - charges they denied. |
| The US supported the Ethiopian and Somali drive against the UIC. | The US supported the Ethiopian and Somali drive against the UIC. |
| Islamists arrested | Islamists arrested |
| At least two people were killed early on Monday morning in Mogadishu, after government and Ethiopian troops tried to arrest suspected Islamist militants. | At least two people were killed early on Monday morning in Mogadishu, after government and Ethiopian troops tried to arrest suspected Islamist militants. |
| They raided houses in northern Mogadishu, in an area where an Ethiopian convoy was attacked on Saturday, leaving four people dead. | They raided houses in northern Mogadishu, in an area where an Ethiopian convoy was attacked on Saturday, leaving four people dead. |
| Ethiopia has said its troops will not remain in SomaliaThe BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in the city says two suspected Islamists were arrested. | Ethiopia has said its troops will not remain in SomaliaThe BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in the city says two suspected Islamists were arrested. |
| He says explosives had been used to blow the door off a house, where an Islamist suspect was believed to be hiding. | He says explosives had been used to blow the door off a house, where an Islamist suspect was believed to be hiding. |
| During the raid, locals threw stones and fired at the government and Ethiopian troops. | During the raid, locals threw stones and fired at the government and Ethiopian troops. |
| Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Friday told the BBC that he would start withdrawing his troops within "a few days". | Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Friday told the BBC that he would start withdrawing his troops within "a few days". |
| Malawi has agreed to send contribute troops to a proposed African Union peacekeeping force to replace the Ethiopians. | Malawi has agreed to send contribute troops to a proposed African Union peacekeeping force to replace the Ethiopians. |
| Defence Minister Davies Katsonga told the BBC that Malawi was considering whether to send a whole battalion (about 1,000 troops) or half a battalion. | Defence Minister Davies Katsonga told the BBC that Malawi was considering whether to send a whole battalion (about 1,000 troops) or half a battalion. |
| "This will depend on who else is contributing to the AU initiative," he said. | "This will depend on who else is contributing to the AU initiative," he said. |
| He said since the AU wants to move in "as soon as possible" to avoid a power vacuum when the Ethiopians withdraw. | He said since the AU wants to move in "as soon as possible" to avoid a power vacuum when the Ethiopians withdraw. |
| Uganda is the only other country to have publicly offered to contribute to the proposed 8,000-strong force. | Uganda is the only other country to have publicly offered to contribute to the proposed 8,000-strong force. |
| South Africa, Tanzania and Nigeria are considering whether to take part. | South Africa, Tanzania and Nigeria are considering whether to take part. |