The former deputy leader of Somali Islamist miltants al Shabaab has called on others to quit the group, saying it does not represent the interests of those it claims to.<br /><br />Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansur fell out of favour with the group in 2013 and has since kept a low profile in Somalia’s dense jungle with his forces before defecting to the government side in Mogadishu last week.<br /><br />Abu Mansur said: “I left al-Shabaab over five years ago. I urge the militants to leave the group. <br /><br />“I left al-Shabaab because of a misunderstanding and I disagreed with their creed which does not serve Islamic religion, people and the country. I also thank the government and its international friends who played a role in the matter up to this point.”<br /><br />Abu Mansur, who until two months ago had a 5 million dollar US bounty on his head, was deputy chief and spokesman for the group until he challenged the leadership of the group in 2013.<br /><br />Since leaving, the group has made multiple attempts on his life.<br /><br />The Al Qaeda-allied militants still remain a formidable threat in Somalia despite losing much of their territory.<br />
