Mogadishu, Oct 13 (AFP) Somalia's defence minister andarmy chief have both resigned, without explaining why, in apotential blow to the government's fight against ShabaabIslamist militants.
The resignations come as Somali security forces struggleto contain attacks by the al-Qaeda-linked group.
Defence Minister Abdirashid Abdullahi confirmed hisresignation to AFP today, but would not be drawn on thereasons behind his decision.
The prime minister's office announced the resignation ofAbdullahi and army chief Ahmed Mohamed Jimale Irfid yesterday.
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, widely knownby his nickname Farmajo, appointed Irfid in April as hedeclared a fresh war on the Shabaab.
The militants emerged out of a bitter insurgency fightingEthiopia, whose troops entered Somalia in a US-backed invasionin 2006 to topple the Islamic Courts Union that was thencontrolling Mogadishu.
While the group has lost large swathes of territory andwas forced out of Mogadishu by African Union troops in 2011,the Shabaab continues to stage regular attacks in the capitaland countryside.
The resignations are the latest blow to the fledglinggovernment of the president, who took office in February.
In May the country's 31-year-old public works ministerwas mistakenly shot dead by government security guards outsidethe presidential palace. (AFP)RB.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.