MOGADISHU, Somalia Jan 13 (Garowe Online) - Somalia's interim government has executed a soldier convicted of killing a civilian, making it the second execution in less than a year.
Somali soldier Shukri Hussein Mohamed was killed by firing squad in the national capital Mogadishu on Sunday, with hundreds of witnesses and senior military commanders present.
Somali troops
Col. Mohamed Osman Dinih, commander of Somalia's navy, told reporters that the soldier was executed after being convicted of intentionally killing an innocent woman last year.
He was charged with murder and sentenced by a military court, according to Col. Dinih.
"This is a clear warning to other soldiers who commit crimes against civilians," he said.
In 2007, two soldiers were convicted of killing fellow soldiers and civilian bystanders. They were both executed on the same day.
Many Mogadishu residents have complained about the behavior of Somali troops, with many reports of robberies, torture and premeditated killings.
On Sunday, a local market in central Mogadishu was forced to shut down after local businesses were robbed overnight by "men in government uniform," according to locals.
Ali Sheikh Mohamed, a shop-owner in Mogadishu's Shibis district, told Garowe Online that property worth more than US$7,000 was stolen from his shop, including cigarette boxes and phone cards.
He said he pays taxes to the government, but does not know why government security forces targeted the market. Other businesses lost valued property as well, Mr. Mohamed said.
Barre Mohamed Mohamud, business association chair for the market in Shibis, spoke to reporters after the association held an emergency meeting today regarding this latest incident.
He said the association asked the Mogadishu municipal government to take tough measures against the culprits.
