Mogadishu 22, May.07  Former Somalia Defence Minster, Col. Barre Hirale, blamed the secular Somali transitional government for breaching the constitution.

After he met Somalia’s traditional elders in Bardheere last week, Hirale condemned the interim government led by president Yusuf and his influential prime minister, Ali Gedi, for dismissing and instating who they want.

“It only pleased me when I was sacked because I could not function under the leadership of president Yusuf and prime minister, Gedi,” he said.

Meanwhile the Somali government fired the commander of the Somali national armed forces yesterday after he was accused of instigating the clan fighting that took place in the port city of Kismayu, 500 km south of the capital, late last month.

Col. Abdirizak Afgadud, told Shabelle by phone from Bulo Gadud settlement in Kismayu, that the clan fighting which happened in port town had nothing to do with his being fired.

“I am a Somali soldier who has been ordered to step down. I took the orders and I am not angry but I was not involved in Kismayu fighting,” he said.

Hirale has, on the other hand, said he believes that only government parliamentarians who hail from Kismayu are capable of soothing the tense situation in the resourceful town.

“I will even accept if I am assigned to take part in stabilizing and finalizing the clan conflicts that still stand within two rival clans because I know how,” he said, denying that he was structuring militias loyal to him to capture Kismayu.

He said only the residents fought the people and the forces that were behind the violence.

Hirale was sacked early this month as he was related to Kismayu violence.

  djiboutination sources shabeele