Clan leader seized by Somalia troops

MOGADISHU, Somalia, June 6 (UPI) -- Troops seized the head of a powerful clan in war-torn Somalia Wednesday and escorted him from his home in the capital of Mogadishu, a report said.

Hawiye clan chairman Haji Abdi Iman Omar was one of several people reportedly detained by Somali and Ethiopian soldiers in the city, the English-language Shabelle media network reported.

The government did not comment on the reported arrests.

A spokesman for the Hawiye clan said the group had contacted Mogadishu's mayor, who said he was unaware of the arrest of the clan leader, Shabelle said.

The mayor previously had warned of a crackdown on clans believed behind a series of bombings of government officials and foreign peacekeeping troops.