Two Somali security officials shot dead in Mogadishu

Somali government troops carry the body of a colleague who was killed in a fight with al-Shabab fighters in Mogadishu. (File photo)

Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:12AM GMT

Unknown gunmen have shot dead two high-ranking Somali security officials in the conflict-riddled capital city of Mogadishu, Press TV reports

Muhiyadin Waheliye, a Somali national security services (NSS), was shot dead in the northern neighborhood of Shibis.

According to Ahmed Hassan, a government security officer, masked men armed with pistols, gunned down Muhiyadin before fleeing on foot in different directions.

“The gunmen killed the new NSS officer last night in Gedole village. For now we are investigating the incident,” Ahmed said on Wednesday.

A second security officer, identified only as Yasin, was also shot dead in the same district.

The assassination of the officials was later claimed by al-Shabab fighters.

“Our Mujahideen are responsible for the attacks against the enemy’s intelligence units, we have killed a total of 15 government intelligence staffs in recent assassination plots,” Sheikh Mohamed Abu-Abdirahman, the al-Shabab commander in Mogadishu told reporters in Lafole on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, two senior government officials have been killed in a landmine explosion in the central Somali town of Beledweyn in the Hiran region.

The explosion, triggered by a remote-controlled landmine, took place in the center of the town on Wednesday, according to residents.

“The blast targeted the convoy of government officials and Ethiopian troops, killing two government officials on the spot,” Abshir Mohammud, a resident in Beledweyn told Press TV.

Another resident reported that several Ethiopian soldiers also sustained injuries in the attack.

Somalia has been without a functioning government since 1991, when warlords overthrew former junta ruler Mohamed Siad Barre.

AMB/MN/GHN