WASHINGTON, Jan 4: US warships are patrolling Somalia's coast to try to prevent Al Qaeda leaders hiding there from fleeing the country after the defeat of the ruling Islamic militia, officials said.

Somalia’s neighbours are cooperating with the United States in its search for Al Qaeda leaders, particularly those involved in the 1998 terrorist attacks at the US embassies in East Africa, officials at the State Department said.

A top State Department official is in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to discuss the Somali situation. Ethiopia played a key role in defeating the Islamic militia.

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer began talks in the region earlier this week after intervening Ethiopian troops, and forces from Somalia's interim government, routed the Islamists from their last stronghold in southern Somalia.

In Washington, State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said US naval units from the Gulf region are involved in the interdiction effort.

"We would be concerned that no leaders, or members, of the Islamic Courts who have ties to terrorist organisations, including Al Qaeda, are allowed to flee and to leave Somalia," he said.