Published: March 09, 2010

Somali Islamist Commander Slain in Mogadishu

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Unidentified assailants have shot and killed top Somali Islamist commander of the Hezbal Islam insurgent group, the group's spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

The Slain commander Sheik Barre Ali Barre was assassinated while walking away in the eastern edge of the main Bakara market, which is a hotbed for insugents to the south of the capital before midday on Tuesday.

Eye witnesses said that Sheik Barre was killed by three masked men armed with pistols who escaped after the killing.

The assassination came two days after when suspected Hezbal Islam militants killed another Islamist commander belonging to the Alqaed-inspired Shabab militants.

Chief of information of Hezbal Islam (Islamic Party) Sheik Mohamed Moalim who talked to reporters in Mogadishu confirmed his killing saying that gangs have killed his colleague.

"This is unjustifiable and barbaric killing and we are investigating who was behind the killing of our beloved brother and we will later provide details about the investigation" he said.

No group has yet claimed the responsibility of the killing of the Hezbal Islam commander, the 5th such officer within the group to be killed for the past three months.

Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar is the NewsBlaze Somalia reporter. Contact him through NewsBlaze.