Somalia sacks top official over minister's shooting

The Somali government sacked the country's auditor-general yesterday, after his bodyguards were accused of shooting dead the minister of public works, apparently by accident.

Abbas Abdullahi Siraji, the 31-year-old public works minister, was killed on Wednesday when government security guards shot at his vehicle outside the presidential palace.

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After an emergency cabinet meeting, the prime minister's office issued a statement announcing auditor-general Nur Jimale Farah's dismissal.

"After hearing a report about the killing of minister Abas Siraji, the minister for public works, the cabinet members have unanimously agreed to discharge the National Auditor General. The position will be temporarily filled by his deputy", the statement said.

The attorney-general and police chief told cabinet that three people had been arrested over the killing and the investigation is ongoing, the statement said.

Farah rejected the sacking, telling reporters the cabinet could not dismiss him without parliament's approval. He said the three suspects who had been arrested were members of his security team.