A senior Hizbul Islam commander, Shuke Abdirahman Odawa, has joined the Somali government after relinquishing his armed opposition.

In a Tuesday meeting with top Somali officials, including National Security Minister Abdullahi Mohammed Ali, at the meeting in the Somali Presidential Palace, Odawa and his armed men denounced the insurgency, pledging support for the government, a Press TV correspondent reported.

"We are highly delighted as a government to have on board people who fought us yesterday and we called on others to emulate the good gesture," Mohammed Ali said.

For his part, Odawa, who commanded Hizbul Islam fighters in Elasha Biyaha in the outskirts of Mogadishu, pledged to defend the people, the religion and the government, adding that his 'wise decision' was not in any way linked to seeking position in power.

Elasha Biyaha, where most of Mogadishu's displaced civilians have fled since 2007, is the headquarters of Hizbul Islam chief Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.

In the meantime, scores of Hizbul Islam fighters flooded towards Somali government bases and handed over their weapons to government officials at military bases across the country.

More than 270 fighters have reportedly surrendered themselves so far at Somalia government bases throughout the war-torn country.

Press TV