Al-Shabab intelligence chief: i am quitting!

 leader of Somalia's al-Shabab with a $3m bounty on his head has announced he is leaving the armed group.

Zakariya Ismail Hersi, who was al-Shabab's intelligence chief, also renounced the violence carried out by the group and called for reconciliation while speaking to the media on Tuesday.

He said "I can confirm that as of today I am no longer a member of Al-Shabab and I have renounced violence as a means of resolving conflict and I will aim to achieve my goals towards peaceful means, and through reconciliation and understanding,"

It is not clear if he will face trial, but Somalia's government said in a statement that it had offered surrendering fighters the "opportunity to reintegrate with Somali society, and guarantees their safety".

ALJAZEERA.