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Somalia attack: Minister Abdullahi Sheikh Abas killed in Mogadishu | Somalia attack: Minister Abdullahi Sheikh Abas killed in Mogadishu |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Somalia's security forces have shot dead a 31-year-old government minister after mistaking him for a militant Islamist, officials have said. | Somalia's security forces have shot dead a 31-year-old government minister after mistaking him for a militant Islamist, officials have said. |
He was killed in his vehicle near the presidential palace in the capital, Mogadishu, the officials added. | He was killed in his vehicle near the presidential palace in the capital, Mogadishu, the officials added. |
The president has cut short his visit to Ethiopia following Abdullahi Sheikh Abas' killing, state radio reports. | The president has cut short his visit to Ethiopia following Abdullahi Sheikh Abas' killing, state radio reports. |
He grew up in a refugee camp, and became Somalia's youngest MP in November and a minister in February. | |
Somalia has been wracked by conflict since the long-serving ruler Siad Barre was outed in 1991. | |
It is currently battling militant Islamists from the al-Shabab group, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda. | |
Nervous troops | |
Security forces on patrol came across a vehicle blocking the road and, thinking it was being driven by militants, opened fire, police Major Nur Hussein told Reuters news agency. | |
Mr Abas was killed "by mistake - they opened fire on his car accidentally. May God rest his soul", Mogadishu mayoral spokesman Abdifatah Omar Halane was quoted as saying. | |
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo said he had ordered security chiefs to "immediately get to the bottom of this unfortunate tragedy" and make sure the perpetrators were "brought to book". | |
Information Minister Abdirahman Osman said several people had been arrested, but did not give details, state-owned Radio Mogadishu reported. | |
Troops are sometimes nervous, and have previously shot officials - and each other - by mistake, says BBC Somalia analyst Abdullahi Abdi. | Troops are sometimes nervous, and have previously shot officials - and each other - by mistake, says BBC Somalia analyst Abdullahi Abdi. |
But Mr Abas, the public works minister, is probably the most high-ranking official killed by "friendly fire", he adds. | But Mr Abas, the public works minister, is probably the most high-ranking official killed by "friendly fire", he adds. |
The president appointed Mr Abas to the cabinet following his surprise election victory in February. | |
President Farmajo promised to improve security and establish an effective government in Somalia. | |
Much of the country is still under the control of al-Shabab. | |
Mr Abas grew up in Dadaab camp in Kenya, home to hundreds of thousands of Somalis who fled drought and conflict. | |