Somali Politician Killed in Breakaway Region

Posted September 21st, 2011 at 5:56 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Somali authorities say unidentified gunmen have killed a lawmaker in the semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland.

Officials say Abdurahman Ahmed Haji, a member of parliament, was shot and killed by two pistol-wielding men as he was entering his house late Tuesday.

The attack happened in the restive town of Galkayo, near Puntland's border with the breakaway state of Galmudug.

The two regions have seen a recent increase in clashes between rival political groups.

Earlier this month at a United Nations-sponsored peace conference, leaders of the two regions agreed to settle a dispute stemming from tribal clashes that left 27 people dead.

Somali leaders also adopted a plan aimed at replacing the country's fragile transitional government by next August. Under the plan, leaders agreed to create a new constitution, revamp parliament and improve security in the war-ravaged capital.

Somalia's transitional government has been largely paralyzed by infighting since it was formed seven years ago.

The militant group Al-Shabab still controls large parts of southern and central Somalia, and the country as a whole is suffering the effects of devastating drought and famine.