Somali Islamist leader questioned in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- A Kenyan government spokesman confirmed the arrest of a high-ranking official from Somalia's Islamist movement.

The spokesman, Alfred Mutua, said Sheik Sharif Ahmed was being questioned by police after surrendering himself during the weekend, the Kenya Broadcasting Corp. reported Tuesday. Ahmed headed the executive arm of the defunct Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia.

Transitional government troops backed by Ethiopian forced drove the Islamists out of Mogadishu in December. However, Somali officials say about 3,500 Islamist fighters are thought to remain in the city.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Kenya said Michael Ranneberger, the U.S. ambassador, plans to meet with Ahmed this week to urge the former leader to call for his supporters to reject violence and participate in the creation of an inclusive government.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian forces began exiting Somalia Tuesday to yield their positions to an African Union peacekeeping force. Ethiopia said the withdrawal is a three-step process.