Thousands watch public execution in Mogadishu

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Friday September 22, 2006

Mogadischu/Nairobi- Several thousand people watched the public execution of a convicted murderer in Modgishu Friday. The man was told to pray before being shot by a firing squad of eight men. It was the first execution since the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) seized power from an alliance of warlords in June.

The young man in his mid-20s had admitted killing a business man in a row over a mobile telephone.

The second condemned man was given a reprieve after his family had pleaded for clemency. He was given a life sentence instead.

UIC security official, Yusuf Mohamed Siyad said that the execution "should be a lesson to everyone. Those who commit murder will be punished in this way."

The mother of the executed man was reported to have said that she was glad that the court had dispensed justice.

During the execution, some of the crowd shouted "Allah O Akbar" (God is great).

The prosecutor at the court had said that it would be a good idea for as many people as possible to watch the execution.

In Mogadishu, several people previously convicted of illegal dealing in alcohol or drugs, have been public flogged recently.

Three people were executed during the past week in partly- autonomous Somaliland in the north-west of the country.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur