MOGADISHU, Somalia July 18 (Garowe Online) - A senior insurgent leader in Somalia has said that his group 'surrendered' two kidnapped French security advisers over to Al Shabaab hardliners to avoid war among the insurgents, Radio Garowe reports.

Sheikh Hassan Dahri Aweys, chief of the Hizbul Islam rebels, told international press on Saturday that Hizbul Islam is no longer responsible for the safety of the French hostages.

"The responsibility has been taken away from us," Sheikh Aweys told London-based Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, noting that he ordered Hizbul Islam fighters to give both kidnapped Frenchmen over to Al Shabaab guerrillas.

Sheikh Aweys justified his decision, saying that he wanted to "avert bloodshed" among Somali insurgents fighting to topple the country's Western-backed interim government.

Separately, some reports said Sheikh Aweys is expected to travel to Egypt as part of efforts by Egyptian and Arab League officials to mediate between Sheikh Aweys and his former ally, current Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. READ: Egypt 'to mediate' between Sharif and Aweys

Meanwhile, Al Shabaab commanders have declared that the two French hostages will be tried under Islamic law, or Shari'ah. Al Shabaab hardliners have rejected peace talks with the Somali government and have vowed to continue the insurgency until they topple the U.N.-recognized interim government of Somalia.

In 2007, the U.S. government placed Al Shabaab on its exclusive list of terrorist organizations.

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Source: Garowe Online