Westgate mall suspects charged

Nairobi radio station, Capital FM, citing the official charge sheet, reported Monday that the four men are accused of "carrying out a terrorist attack at Westgate Shopping Mall on September 21 by supporting a terrorist group."

The attack, which happened in the busy shopping precinct, was claimed by Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked Shebab terrorist cell. The group said it carried out the massacre because of Kenya's refusal to withdraw troops from Somalia where they are part of an African peacekeeping force fighting militants.

All four men, who are all ethnic Somalis, have reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include illegally entering Kenya and acquiring false identification documents. None are believed to have been the gunmen in the attack.

The four gunmen authorities believe to have carried out the shootings are understood to have died in the four-day siege.

The suspects were remanded in custody as the prosecution sought more time for further investigations.

jlw/mz (dpa, AFP)