MOGADISHU, Somalia, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A member of Parliament in Somalia was killed in Mogadishu by al-Qaida-linked terrorist organization al-Shabab.
Abdulahi Qayad Barre was shot and killed near the presidential palace as he left his home to go to parliament. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack and said it would target more politicians.
MPs were gathering to approve a new cabinet after rejecting the newly-elected prime minister's candidates. Al-Shabab calls the politicians "despotic infidels."
At least five MPs were killed last year, but Barre seems to be the first assassinated in 2015. Somalia is to vote on a new constitution ahead of national elections in 2016.
Recently, al-Shabab killed at least six people after detonating a car bomb outside of a hotel in Mogadishu.
Al-Shabab imposes strict Islamic law in the areas it controls within Somalia and frequently carries out attacks, including the 2013 Westgate shopping mall attack in Kenya in which at least 67 people were killed. Security in Mogadishu has improved since al-Shabab lost control of the capital in 2011.
List of Somali MPs killed by #AlShabaab in Mogadishu for the past 10 months. #Somalia pic.twitter.com/4tVise5yjv
Advertisement— Live From Mogadishu (@Daudoo) February 9, 2015
