Al-Shabaab deputy leader surrenders

Mogadishu, Aug 13 (IANS)   An official said former Al-Shabaab deputy leader Mukhtar Robow  defected to the Somalia security forces following a bitter fight with militants in Abal location, on Sunday.

Officials said Robow, who is from the large Rahanweyn clan, which dominates many of Somalia's most fertile areas, arrived in government-controlled town of Hudur in Somalia' southwest State forces earlier in the day, Xinhua news agency reported.

Confirming the news, Minister of Internal Security Hassan Hussein Mohamed said: "Al-Shabaab militants wanted to kill Robow but we gave him military help and repulsed the Al-Shabaab fighters. Robow is now in Hudur town with southwest State officials."

Robow's surrender comes after weeks of deadly fighting between Al-Shabaab militants and his militia backed by Somalian security forces.

He left the militant group in 2013 and retreated to his homeland over a disagreement on using foreign fighters in the group.

Before his disagreement with the group, Robow was declared wanted terrorist by the US in June 2012 with a $5 million bounty placed on his head.

Analysts say his defection is a big blow to Al-Shabaab, due to which it will certainly lose all South of Somalia due to Robow's influence there.