12:17 AM
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Mogadishu, Somalia — Former Minister of Commerce was killed in a car bomb in Hamarweyne district in Mogadishu, Garowe Online reports.
The victim, Mr. Mohamud Abdi (Garweyne), is a former official of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), the parent organization of today's Al Shabaab terrorist militia. Mr. Garweyne was later appointed by President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, himself former ICU chief, as a Cabinet minister for humanitarian affairs and was a current Member of Parliament.
Mr. Garweyne was killed in Mogadishu Monday afternoon, in what police officials speculate was an explosive planted on his vehicle.
One woman died from her injuries another and two people who were on board Garweyne's vehicle were injured totaling the injuries to six persons in Monday's blast.
Deputy security chief for Banadir region, Warsame Mohamed Hassan, verified the assassination of Mr. Garweyne who according to security officials in Mogadishu was on the Al Shabaab 'hit list'.
Al Shabaab press desk claimed responsibility for Monday's blast saying that the attack certifies that the terrorist organization is still active in Mogadishu.
"This is proof that Al Shabaab still hasn't exited Mogadishu and we will target more government officials," said the Al Shabaab press desk.
Although Al Shabaab claimed that it had retreated from Mogadishu last year, however attacks in Mogadishu by the terrorist organization have been a recurrent theme in the capital.
As the transitional government period is scheduled to come to a close next month important conferences like the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) meeting are set to take place in Mogadishu.
According to Transitional Federal Government (TFG) officials, despite security breaches in the capital, the security of officials and delegates who will take part in ending the transitional process is the top priority for government and UN backed security institutions operating in Mogadishu.