Somalia — Sheik Hassan Osman known as (Mahdi), a member of the Islamic Courts Union the wing led by Dr. Omar Iman Abubakar has said on Tuesday they have taken the security over the vacated military bases of the Ethiopian troops in the Somali capital Mogadishu last night(Monday).

Sheik Hassan Mahdi told Shabelle radio they have taken those areas over to keep the security of that places which the Ethiopian soldiers moved and said that they handed over Hayle Bairse building to the people who belonged it.

Asked about whether there is power struggle with the other Islamist insurgents, Sheik Hassan Mahdi said that there is no difference between the Somali Islamist insurgents and mentioned that all Islamist forces are in the areas where the troops left and he added they would handle the situation of the bases in north Mogadishu which the Ethiopian troops vacated.

The statement of Sheik Hassan Osman (Mahdi) comes as the Ethiopian troops moved from the former Spaghetti factory, Hayle Barise building, Carafat neighbourhood and Towfiq intersection, all bases of Ethiopian troops in north Mogadishu on Tuesday night.