Sunday, March 18, 2007
Major Abdi Mohamed Abdulle was killed overnight in his compound in Kismayo, 500 kilometres (310 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu.
A second bodyguard and two children in a neighbouring house were injured in the incident, they added. The man suspected of shooting Abdulle had been arrested and taken into custody.
"He was shot at close-range and bled too much. He was pronounced dead on arrival in hospital," said Ahmed Abdi, a police officer.
Mogadishu police headquarters confirmed the death and said it had launched probe into the killing.
Residents said there were brief skirmishes in the compound before the commander was killed.
"There was some shouting before the shooting occurred," said Ismail Abdullahi."It appeared there was a disagreement over who was to guard the officer's residence at night."
Abdulle had gained reputation for his unrelenting crackdown on gunmen in the port town.
Shortly before he was killed he gave an interview to a Mogadishu radio station announcing the capture four notorious gunmen.
The shooting comes as insurgents increased their attacks in the Somali capital following the joint Ethiopian-Somali campaign to dislodge Islamist forces from the capital -- and the country -- in January.
The attacks have claimed dozens of people and forced tens of thousands to flee.
Earlier this month, the African Union deployed 1,200 Ugandan troops there, part of a proposed 8,000-strong force aiming to enable Ethiopian troops to leave and Somali forces to take over security.
Somalia has lacked an effective government since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
Source: AFP, Mar 18, 2007