Al-Shabab executes men accused of spying

Al-Qaeda-linked group accused three men of spying for the Somali and French governments.

The three men were publicly executed in the rebel-held town of Barawe [FILE: AP]

Somalia’s al-Qaida-linked rebel group says it has killed three men it accused of being spies.

A self-proclaimed judge for al-Shabab said on the group’s radio station on Wednesday that the three men had been executed by firing squad in the rebel-held town of Barawe.

The judge, who called himself Abdul Haq, said the three had been spying for the Somalia and French governments. He said other spies would face similar punishment.

Haq said one of the men confessed to helping provide intelligence for the botched French military operation to rescue the hostage, Denis Allex last year. Allex died during the rescue attempt.

Source: AP