DHAKA: An alleged commander in the Somali Shebab rebel group on Monday denied news reports that Westerners or women were involved in the hostage standoff at a Nairobi mall that has killed at least 69 people.

The man, who claimed he had been in contact with the Islamist attackers inside the Westgate shopping centre, also said the militants would not negotiate an end to the siege.

The man, who called himself Abu Omar, was speaking to BBC radio after several British newspapers reported that Samantha Lewthwaite, the widow of one of the suicide bombers in the 2005 attacks on the London transport network, could have masterminded the attack, reports foxnews.com.

‘There are some rumours spreading around that say that there have been American, British and other attackers of different nationalities involved,’ Abu Omar said.

‘I can confirm to you that none of that is true, I know that is baseless rumours that have no justification for them.’

He claimed that women would never be involved in perpetrating such attacks.

BDST: 1439 HRS, SEPT 24, 2013
RoR/BSK