Captured Islamist cleric paraded in Somalia

By Sahra Abdi Ahmed

Kismayu - Ethiopian soldiers on Tuesday paraded a wounded senior cleric captured in south Somalia during the pursuit of remnants of an Islamist movement ousted from Mogadishu in a war over the New Year.

Bearded cleric Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Madobe - former Somalia Islamic Courts Council (SICC) chairperson for the southern town of Kismayu - told reporters he suffered more than a dozen bullet wounds after US planes fired on his forest hideout.

Looking shaken and showing a bullet wound on his face, Madobe said the aerial attack killed eight Islamist colleagues. He was caught and given medical treatment by Ethiopian troops.

"All the others were killed. I sustained 13 injuries to my body," he said, appealing to go to hospital.

Washington has acknowledged conducting two air strikes aimed at al-Qaeda suspects thought to be hiding among the Islamists.

Guarded by soldiers at a dilapidated former government building, Madobe was allowed to shake hands with elders, friends and relatives, and speak briefly to media.

Madobe said he was treated well by his Ethiopian captors, and called on Somalis to work with the government.

But those comments drew suspicion from a former colleague, who suggested he was being used for propaganda purposes.

"They want to use him to soften us and woo support," the former Islamist militiaman said by telephone from Kismayu.

"It will never work, even if he joins their ranks."