A leader of Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab has surrendered himself to police, a Somali intelligence official has claimed.

Ismail Ahmed Hersi had a three-million-dollar bounty attached to him by the US in 2012, for any information leading to his capture.

The Somali intelligence officer, who remained anonymous, said Hersi may have surrendered because of conflict within al-Shabaab.

He claimed Hersi fell out with other millitants loyal to Ahmed Godane, al-Shabaab's key leader, who was killed in a US airstrike earlier this year.

Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Show all 10 1 /10 Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Kenya A woman observes the remains of the Breeze View Hotel, where residents watching World Cup soccer tournament, were attacked and killed by militants, in the town of Mpeketoni, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Somali border on the coast of Kenya Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Kenya A man observes the remains of destroyed vehicles and buildings in the town of Mpeketoni, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the Somali border on the coast of Kenya Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Kenya Wreckages of burnt cars are seen outside the Mpeketoni police station after unidentified gunmen attacked the coastal Kenyan town of Mpeketoni Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Kenya People gather around the wreckage of a car in Mpeketoni. At least 48 people were killed when suspected Shebab militants from Somalia stormed into a Kenyan coastal town and launched a major assault on a police station, hotels and government offices Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Kenya Men look at the wreckage of two vehicles sitting on the roadside in Mpeketoni Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Kenya Women weep after seeing the bodies of their loved ones who were killed in attacks in the small coastal town of Mpeketoni near Lamu Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Kenya People gather outside a building still smouldering in Mpeketoni after some 50 heavily-armed gunmen attacked the town near the coastal island and popular tourist resort of lamu Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Kenya A destroyed house in Mpeketoni Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Kenya A man looks at the wreckage of a 14-seater mini-bus in Mpeketoni, in Lamu county along the Kenyan coast, after some 50 heavily-armed gunmen attacked the town near the coastal island and popular tourist resort of lamu Kenya hotel attack: Suspected al-Shabaab militants kill 48 people in Mpeketoni Kenya A man stands outside a row of houses where smoke seeps through openings in Mpeketoni

Hersi was among eight al-Shabaab members on whom the US government wanted information, offering a total of $33 million in rewards.

Voice of America journalist Haran Maruf claims that in a recent interview, Hersi said he left al-Shabaab 18 months ago, and was unaware of the bounty placed upon him by the US.

The group has carried out many terror attacks in Somalia and neighbouring countries including Kenya, whose armies are vital to bolstering Somalia's weak, UN-backed government.