Somali MP gunned down

Some militiamen have been recruited by the government

Gunmen in the Somali capital Mogadishu have killed a member of Somalia's new transitional parliament less than two weeks after it held its inaugural session.

Hassan Ahmed Elmi was shot dead at his home by unidentified gunmen in south-west Mogadishu, an area controlled by the warlord Musa Sudi Yalahow, one of the faction leaders who have rejected attempts at national reconciliation.

Msua Sudi Yalahow denied any involvement in the murder and said that preliminary investigations indicated a power struggle among members of parliament.

A neighbour, Mohammed Ahmed Ulusow, told the French news agency, AFP, that Mr Elmi had been shot by two masked men in front of his wife and eight children.

Last month, unidentified gunmen shot and killed General Youssuf Talan, a peace supporter who had been appointed to a committee to oversee demobilisation of militias in Somalia.

Parliament Speaker Abdallah Issak Derrow said that the killing of the MP was "regrettable" and promised an investigation.

Several powerful faction leaders are opposed to the transitional government of President Abdulkassim Salat Hassan and the 245-member assembly, which was elected in neighbouring Djibouti in August.

About 180 MPs are staying in the heavily guarded Ramadan Hotel in the north of Mogadishu.

Recruiting

Somalia has had no national army or police force since president Mohammed Siad Barre was overthrown nearly 10 years ago.

Since then many former soldiers had joined the different factions in Somalia.

The new government wants to restore peace and stability

In an effort to return security to the country, the new government has been recruiting them, in a move mainly financed by the local business community.

A deadline passed at the weekend for them to report for training.

More than 2,000 gunmen joined up in October to provide security for the new administration in Mogadishu.

The government has pledged to disarm the militia and their warlords, who have split the country into ruling fiefdoms .

Talks are underway in the Kenyan capital Nairobi between Somali delegates and UN staff, aid agencies, donors and international experts to discuss how to demobilise the armed militiamen.