MOGADISHU, July 26 (Xinhua) -- At least five Somali government forces including a senior security officer were killed and two others injured when infighting broke out among the security officers in Mogadishu on Wednesday.
The fighting broke out between the military and National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) at a military checkpoint near the presidential palace in Mogadishu.
Minister of Defense of Somalia, Abdirashid Abdulahi Mohamed confirmed the incident, saying the government has launched investigation to establish the cause of the deadly gunfire that also resulted in the death of an intelligence officer.
"I can confirm that five NISA and SNA (military) soldiers died and two others injured in an incident here in Mogadishu today due to suspicion between the two sides. A senior security officer is among those killed in Mogadishu," Mohamed told journalists.
He said that the government has set up a committee which will investigate how the incident happened.
Sources said the fighting erupted after the military soldiers denied access to a convoy carrying former Benadir Intelligence chief Isse Jiljile to the main street for unknown reasons.
The dispute later sparked a deadly gunfight that left the senior intelligence officer and some of his bodyguards dead.
The latest incident comes barely three months after Somali Minister of Public Works and Reconstruction, Abbas Abdulahi Siraji was shot down by Somali government soldiers at the same scene. Enditem
