19 Al-Shabaab suspects arrested in Afgooye- Government

Nineteen Al-Shabaab suspects among them explosives experts were arrested in a military operation in the past week in Lower Shabelle region, the government said Thursday.

Briefing the media Thursday following a cabinet meeting, Information Minister Abdirahman Yarisow said the arrested suspects are in custody and will soon be arraigned in court.

Among them, the minister said was Aweis Kadar Ahmed, the unit leader of operations in Afgooye, Abdullahi Mohamed Muktar aka Iley, a bombs experts and secretary Aweis. Abdiweli Abdi Iidar who killed a police officer attached to the tax department was also among those arrested, the minister said.

The Minister did not indicate timelines of the operation but indicated it took place in Afgooye adding the government was sure they were Al-Shabaab militants.

Meanwhile the government said it will host a national Islamic scholars conference in December to explore the role of religious leaders in fighting terrorism and dissemination information on good government.

The cabinet meeting Thursday also received reports from the constitutional affairs ministry on accelerating the constitutional review process, federalism and 2020 elections. A policy paper on urban planning and land development was also tabled during the meeting and will be deliberated in the next meeting.