Somali National Security Minister Abdikarim Hussein Gulled announced his resignation on Saturday after the al-Shebaab Islamist militant group killed 24 people in an attack at the national parliament.
Mr Gulled made the announcement on state-run Radio Mogadishu. He did not say why he was stepping down, but he has been under pressure from parliament over ongoing insecurity in the east African country. Critics have said that Mr Gulled lacked experience in the security field. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud cut short a trip to South African, where he attended the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma for a second term, saying he would return to Mogadishu yesterday.
The fatalities included 13 al-Shebaab fighters and two African Union (AU) peacekeepers, an AU spokesman said. Police in Mogadishu said nine members of the Somali security forces were killed, bringing the death toll to 24.
More than 30 people were injured, including 14 members of the Somali security forces and five peacekeepers.
Mr Gulled paid tribute to security force members who lost their lives in the fight against terrorists.
The attack began with a suicide car bombing outside parliament. Insurgents dressed in military uniforms shot at guards who sought to keep them from entering the building. A second explosion was heard. The attack occurred while lawmakers were meeting.
"A huge explosion shook the building, and I thought it had been demolished. Then fierce fighting erupted between security forces and the attackers", lawmaker Dahir Amiin Jeesow said.
The legislators were evacuated through another gate by Somali security forces and AU peacekeepers.
"We saw lost of smoke coming from around the area of the hall as we were evacuating from there. Some members of the security forces and attackers were lying in pools of blood, " said another lawmaker, who asked not to be identified. dpa
Somali National Security Minister Abdikarim Hussein Gulled announced his resignation on Saturday after the al-Shebaab Islamist militant group killed 24 people in an attack at the national parliament.
Mr Gulled made the announcement on state-run Radio Mogadishu. He did not say why he was stepping down, but he has been under pressure from parliament over ongoing insecurity in the east African country. Critics have said that Mr Gulled lacked experience in the security field. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud cut short a trip to South African, where he attended the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma for a second term, saying he would return to Mogadishu yesterday.
The fatalities included 13 al-Shebaab fighters and two African Union (AU) peacekeepers, an AU spokesman said. Police in Mogadishu said nine members of the Somali security forces were killed, bringing the death toll to 24.
More than 30 people were injured, including 14 members of the Somali security forces and five peacekeepers.
Mr Gulled paid tribute to security force members who lost their lives in the fight against terrorists.
The attack began with a suicide car bombing outside parliament. Insurgents dressed in military uniforms shot at guards who sought to keep them from entering the building. A second explosion was heard. The attack occurred while lawmakers were meeting.
"A huge explosion shook the building, and I thought it had been demolished. Then fierce fighting erupted between security forces and the attackers", lawmaker Dahir Amiin Jeesow said.
The legislators were evacuated through another gate by Somali security forces and AU peacekeepers.
"We saw lost of smoke coming from around the area of the hall as we were evacuating from there. Some members of the security forces and attackers were lying in pools of blood, " said another lawmaker, who asked not to be identified. dpa
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