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| US confirms al-Shabab leader Ahmed Godane killed | US confirms al-Shabab leader Ahmed Godane killed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The leader of the Somali Islamist group al-Shabab, Ahmed Abdi Godane, was killed following a US attack earlier this week, the Pentagon has said. | The leader of the Somali Islamist group al-Shabab, Ahmed Abdi Godane, was killed following a US attack earlier this week, the Pentagon has said. |
| The US carried out air strikes on Monday night destroying a vehicle and an encampment south of the capital. | |
| "Removing Godane from the battlefield is a major symbolic and operational loss to al-Shabab," the Pentagon press secretary said in a statement. | "Removing Godane from the battlefield is a major symbolic and operational loss to al-Shabab," the Pentagon press secretary said in a statement. |
| He was one of the US state department's most wanted men. | He was one of the US state department's most wanted men. |
| It had placed a bounty of $7m (£4.2m) on his head. | It had placed a bounty of $7m (£4.2m) on his head. |
| Ahmed Abdi Godane: | |
| Ahmed Abdi Godane profile | |
| Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm John Kirby said the military action on 1 September had "led to his death". | Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm John Kirby said the military action on 1 September had "led to his death". |
| The US has supported the African Union (AU) force that has driven al-Shabab out of the capital, Mogadishu, and other towns since 2011. | The US has supported the African Union (AU) force that has driven al-Shabab out of the capital, Mogadishu, and other towns since 2011. |
| The al-Qaeda-linked fighters want to overthrow the UN-backed Somali government and frequently attack government targets as well as neighbouring countries that provide troops to the AU force. | The al-Qaeda-linked fighters want to overthrow the UN-backed Somali government and frequently attack government targets as well as neighbouring countries that provide troops to the AU force. |
| 'Painstaking work' | |
| A statement from the White House press secretary described al-Shabab as the "largest al-Qaeda affiliate in Africa". | A statement from the White House press secretary described al-Shabab as the "largest al-Qaeda affiliate in Africa". |
| Godane's death "reflects years of painstaking work by our intelligence, military and law enforcement professionals", Jay Carney's statement said. | Godane's death "reflects years of painstaking work by our intelligence, military and law enforcement professionals", Jay Carney's statement said. |
| The al-Shabab leader had publicly claimed the group's responsibility for the deadly Westgate shopping centre attack in September last year, he said. | The al-Shabab leader had publicly claimed the group's responsibility for the deadly Westgate shopping centre attack in September last year, he said. |
| "Under his leadership, the group has claimed responsibility for many bombings - including various types of suicide attacks - in Mogadishu and in central and northern Somalia, typically targeting officials and perceived allies of the Somali government as well as the former transitional federal government of Somalia. | "Under his leadership, the group has claimed responsibility for many bombings - including various types of suicide attacks - in Mogadishu and in central and northern Somalia, typically targeting officials and perceived allies of the Somali government as well as the former transitional federal government of Somalia. |
| "Godane has also continued to oversee plots targeting Westerners, including US persons, in East Africa." | "Godane has also continued to oversee plots targeting Westerners, including US persons, in East Africa." |
| The White House said the US would continue to use the tools at its disposal - "financial, diplomatic, intelligence and military" - to address the threat of al-Shabab and to support the Somali government's efforts to "build a secure and stable future for the Somali people". | The White House said the US would continue to use the tools at its disposal - "financial, diplomatic, intelligence and military" - to address the threat of al-Shabab and to support the Somali government's efforts to "build a secure and stable future for the Somali people". |
| The US attack, using manned and unmanned aircraft, took place about 240km (150 miles) south of Mogadishu on an encampment and convoy of vehicles - believed to have been made up of three lorries and a smaller vehicle. | |
| It took place days after the 22,000-strong AU force had launched a major offensive to capture territory from the militants in the Lower Shabelle region. |