Jump | Free Trial Issue
Search Quote
HOME PAGE FOR THE WORLD'S BUSINESS LEADERS
 
Home > News & Analysis
 
  


Associated Press
Somalis Riot After Minister Shot to Death
By MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN , 07.28.2006, 09:48 AM



Hundreds of people rioted Friday near the headquarters of Somalia's virtually powerless government after a Cabinet minister was fatally shot outside a mosque.

People began streaming into the streets and setting fires just hours after the killing of Abdallah Isaaq Deerow, Somalia's minister for constitutional and federal affairs.

An unidentified gunman shot Deerow several times in the chest, then escaped, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.

"We condemn this wicked action and the government will chase the murderers and treat them with an iron hand," said the government's information minister, Mohamed Abdi Hayir.

The shooting was the second this week of a lawmaker in Baidoa, the only town controlled by the fragile administration. Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed, chairman of the parliamentary committee for constitutional affairs, was wounded Wednesday night. Police were investigating both shootings.

The government, which has no military, has watched helplessly in recent months as Islamic militants have taken over the capital and much of southern Somalia. On Thursday, 18 top ministers resigned, saying the government has failed to bring peace to this chaotic African nation.

Deerow was not among those who resigned.

Also Friday, Islamic fighters closed roads around the capital's airport and chased away onlookers while a plane was unloaded. A similar aircraft delivered goods Wednesday, and officials from the government accused Eritrea of sending arms to the militants on that flight.

Islamic officials and Eritrea both denied the accusation. Eritrea and Ethiopia have been accused of supporting opposite sides in the Somali standoff, using the country as a battleground in their own rivalry.

The lawmakers who resigned Thursday said they were opposed to troops from neighboring Ethiopia who were sent here to protect the government from the Islamic group.

"We have seen that the government cannot carry out national reconciliation and development," said the resignation letter issued Thursday by 18 key ministers in the 102-member Cabinet.

Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Gedi accused the former Cabinet ministers of trying to bring down his government, but said it would not be affected.

The Islamic militants' increasing power has prompted grave concerns in the United States, which accuses the group of harboring al-Qaida leaders responsible for deadly 1998 bombings at the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The Islamic group's imposition of strict religious courts also has raised fears of an emerging Taliban-style regime.



Associated Press writer Mohamed Sheikh Nor contributed to this report from Mogadishu.



Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed


1 of 1




News Headlines | More From Forbes.com | Special Reports
   
Subscriptions >

Free Trial Issue of Forbes Forbes Gift Subscription
Subscribe To Newsletters Subscriber Customer Service
Buy Audio Version of Forbes




  
Trading Center
Brought to you by the sponsors below
 
 

CEO Book Club more >
Laissez Faire In The Studio
Dunstan Prial
At Columbia Records, John Hammond made some of the greatest discoveries in American music.
READ REVIEW          BUY THIS BOOK
Glass Ceilings
Kathleen Archambeau
Why do women still hit barriers to top management jobs in the corporate world?
READ REVIEW          BUY THIS BOOK
Search Books


Advanced Search |  New & Notable

 
  
 
    


 
SitemapHelpContact UsInvestment NewslettersForbes ConferencesForbes MagazinesForbes Autos
Ad Information   Forbes.com Wireless   RSS   Reprints/Permissions   Subscriber Services  
© 2006 Forbes.com Inc.™   All Rights Reserved   Privacy Statement   Terms, Conditions and Notices


Stock quotes are delayed at least 15 minutes for Nasdaq, at least 20 minutes for NYSE/AMEX. U.S. indexes are delayed at least 15 minutes with the exception of Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 which are 2 minutes delayed.


Powered By