MOGADISHU, Somalia Feb 10 (Garowe Online) - Somalia's new president, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, has said that he spoke with anti-government groups in the Somali capital during his brief stay in Mogadishu, Radio Garowe reports.

President Sheikh Sharif held a press conference Tuesday at the Villa Somalia presidential compound in Mogadishu moments before flying back to Djibouti, where he is expected to appoint a new Prime Minister.

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed

"Officers from Al Shabaab and Hisbul Islam [Islamic Party] were among groups I met with, and more talks are expected," the Somali leader said.

He did not specify the names of officials he met with, but Somali media widely distributed reports that President Sheikh Sharif met with Muktar Robow "Abu Mansur," al Shabaab's spokesman. READ:  Al Shabaab spokesman 'meets' Somalia president: reports

Sheikh Sharif said he appointed a special commission to oversee the security situation in Mogadishu, including representatives from the insurgency.

President Sheikh Sharif's first trip to Mogadishu since being elected late last month included discussions with African Union generals, government officials, insurgency commanders, civil society representatives and business leaders.

Villa Somalia was targeted with mortars on Saturday, hours after he arrived in the capital for the first time as Somali president.

But Mogadishu has been relatively quiet in recent days, as negotiations continue among various insurgent groups and the Horn of Africa country's new Islamist president.

Source: Garowe Online