MOGADISHU, 25 Sept. 2007 - Ethiopian forces operating in Somalia have arrested Afsad Abdi Tafay, deputy commander of the Islamist Shabab militia, in Galguduud region, central Somalia.

A reliable source in Mogadishu told Awadalnews that Afsad, who is considered to be the right hand man of Adan Hashi Ayro, the Afghanistan veteran and commander of the Shabab, was arrested in the Guri Eeel town of Galguduud region, earlier this week.

The Shabab, the military wing of the Somali Islamic Courts whose leaders were routed from Mogadishu by Ethiopian forces late 2006 claimed responsibility for a number attacks against the Ethiopian forces and Somali Federal Transitional Government’s (TFG) Military and police force.

Afsad was worked under Ayro as deputy commander of the Ifka Halane Islamic Court during the short-lived rule of the Islamic Courts in Mogadishu.

The source said when arrested Afsad had two pistols, two mobile phones and a vehicle.

Ayro who is in the American terrorist list who is widely believed to be directing operations against the Somali Transitional Federal Government, TFG, armed forces and their Ethiopian supporters is also rumored to be hiding in the Galgduud countryside.

The arrest of Afsad comes a few days after Ethiopian troops arrested six men believed to be members of al Qaeda during a cross-border operation in the town of Buhodle in the breakaway republic of Somaliland, as reported by international news agencies.

Source: ANN