Elite Gorgor soldiers killed in central Somalia fighting

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali government says it is investigating circumstances leading to the death of two soldiers from elite Gorgor forces, an incident that took place in the troubled Beledweyne town within central Somalia's Hirshabelle state.

Multiple sources indicated that the soldiers were killed following a confrontation within government building in the town which has witnessed election-related tensions in recent weeks as the opposition and government tussle for Lower House seats.

Vice President Yusuf Debageed and regional President Ali Gudlawe Hussein have been battling over the control of the contest. While Debageed wants Villa Somalia allied candidates to win the contests, Gudlawe has insisted on a free and fair election.

According to sources, the soldiers died in a gunfight but the circumstances surrounding the crash remained unclear. It was not immediately clear if the soldiers were allied to either President Ali Gudlawe or his deputy Yusuf Dabageed and neither leader has commented on the incident.

Beledweyne town is now the center of clashes as local delegates prepare for elections of 11 MPs who will represent the state at the federal parliament. A local militia has also been battling to control regional politics in the state.

Amid this fallout, armed groups from different clans have moved into Beletweyne rising tensions and fears of a possible clash. The remaining seats are being battled out by Hawadle and Galjaceel subclans, reports indicate.

Last month, Gorgor troops were dispatched to the town after it emerged that former chief spy Fahad Yasin had traveled to contest for a parliamentary seat. Yasin, a close ally of outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, won the seat albeit controversially.

GAROWE ONLINE