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(SomaliNet) A violent demonstration against the release of a man being suspected of killing former minister of constitutional federalism Abdalla Derow Isaaq has happened on Monday in Baidoa, the temporarily capital of transitional federal government.
The protest came after militia loyal to Somali president Abdulahi Yusuf tried to forcefully release a man alleged with the murder of Derwo Isaaq who is in the jail of Baidoa town where they have clashed with the guards of the prison.
Two pick ups mounted with heavy machinegun and full of armed militia from the presidential palace in Baidoa have raided the prison willing to free the alleged murder but they had encountered a strong resistance from the militia guarding the jail exchanging fires, local official told Somalinet.
Reports say the raiders failed in their operation of storming the prison.
“We could hear the sounds of heavy machineguns and gun fire around the central jail in Baidoa near to the residence of president Yusuf,” an eyewitness said.
There is no immediate casualty on the latest fighting. But angry protestors have rallied near the area of clashes throwing stones at the governments cars.
The people also blocked the roads burning tyres on the ground and they were chanting anti government slogans, smashing the big boards of the government ads.
The protesters were accusing the government of being behind the killing of former minister Derow Isaaq, referring to the latest event.
The mob was also attacking anyone who speaks the Somali dialect known as ‘Maxaa-tiri’, which is commonly spoken in central, east and north of Somalia.
The attempt of releasing the murder by the militia so close to president Yusuf strengthens earlier rumours that the government was involved in the case of the killing of Derow Isaaq from Digil and Mirifle clans that are more dominant in Bay and Bakol regions in southwest of Somalia.
There is yet no word from the government officials on the clashes.
The clashes stopped and the situation now resumed calm in Baidoa but the tension still stands high in some places in the town.
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Radio Xoriyo
| BBC Somali >>