Somali auditor general refuses to step down

By Hassan Istiila

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Somalia's Auditor General Nur Farah, who was fired by the Somali prime minister Thursday evening, has refused to step down, according to local media

Local media reported that Nur Farah Friday said he considered the firing unconstitutional, adding only parliament had the authority to do so.

The sacking came a day after the auditor's bodyguards shot dead a minister in the Somali capital on Wednesday.

Abbas Siraj, the 31-year-old public works minister, was killed when the security detail opened fire on his car after mistaking him for a militant near the presidential palace in Mogadishu.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ordered an investigation into the killing.

“I have ordered the security heads to immediately investigate this unfortunate tragedy and make sure the perpetrators are brought to book,” Mohamed said in a statement.