Affrontements à Mogadiscio : mort du Ministre de l’Intérieur – 10 juin 2011

More Clashes in Somalia; Minister Is Killed

nytimes.com

11 06 2011

Protesters on Friday attacked the Medina Hotel and other hotels in Mogadishu where lawmakers were staying.

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Protests and violence racked this capital city on Friday, incited by the announcement the day before that the country’s popular prime minister had resigned.

The interior minister was killed by a suicide bombing at his house, and at least five other people were killed in clashes in the city, witnesses and officials said.

Thousands of people marched through the streets demanding the reinstatement of the prime minister, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who was pushed out of office as part of a deal among squabbling political factions to extend the transitional government for a year. The protesters, including many government soldiers, said Mr. Mohamed was the chaotic country’s only honest leader in recent years.

Two protesters and a policeman were killed in the Dharkanley neighborhood when another police officer fired at the demonstrators, said Abdisalam Nor, a witness.

Another protester was killed and two more were wounded when two security guards fired on demonstrators who were trying to force their way into the Medina Hotel in the Hamarjajab District, witnesses said. Somali soldiers arrested the guards, but the protesters continued to attack the Medina and other hotels where lawmakers were staying. The Medina was set on fire.

Speaking on Radio Mogadishu, the state-run station, Mr. Mohamed praised the army and urged it to act with restraint, He appealed to protesters for calm and asked them to go home.

“I have seen your expressions and heard your calls,” he said. “You are part of the decision making — what you want must be heard.”

The death of Abdishashakur Sheik Hassan, the country’s minister of the interior and national security, in the bombing at his home was confirmed late Friday by the minister of information, Abdulkareem Jama. Local radio reports, citing government officials, said that a woman, thought to be a relative of Mr. Hassan’s, gained access to his house wearing an explosive device and detonated it in his room. Gravely wounded in the legs and lower body, the minister was taken to Benadir Hospital, where he died, officials said. Read more…