| Aweys Osman Yusuf Somalia’s former Defense Minister, Col. Barre Aden Hirale, was wounded in roadside bomb blast on Wednesday. The blast occurred as a convoy carrying the former minister, along with number of Somali entourages, hit a roadside bomb which was remotely detonated, according to Mohammed Abdi Karin an official with Hirale.
The convoy was passing by the outskirt of Bardhere in Gedo province, southern Somalia when the bomb exploded.
His driver was killed in the blast, Shabelle correspondent, Ahmed Salihi , said. Initial reports indicated that the driver lost his two legs
Salihi said the colonel was admitted to a hospital in Bardhere. “But it is expected that he will be flown to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, for treatment,” he said.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the bomb attack.
Hirale, who was interviewed by Shabelle, Tuesday, said he was determined to be neutral in the clan conflict of Kismayu, where the two major clans clashed on Friday, killing more than 20 and wounding over 40.
He hails from Merahan sub-clan that fighting Somalia president’s Majecteen sub-clan.
The leaders of both clans have been challenging over the management of Kismayu since the T.F.G. backed by its Ethiopian allied troops routed out the Union of Islamic Courts in early this year. The minister was sacked nearly three months ago after the Somali government blamed him for instigating the tribal incongruity in Kismayu |
