Somali govt deplores killing of MSF doctors

MOGADISHU - Somali government on Friday condemned as "barbaric" the killing of two aid workers with the Medcines Sans Frontier (MSF) in Mogadishu Thursday by local worker of the medical aid agency, saying the perpetrator will be brought to justice, a government statement said.

"The Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, confirmed that the perpetrator of yesterday's (Thursday's) shooting of two aid workers would be brought to justice," the statement said.

The attacker who was logics officer of the medical group MSF or Doctors Without Borders was sacked from his position a day earlier when he came on Thursday and shot the two, 53-year-old Belgian and 43-year old Indonesian at the agency compound in Mogadishu.

The Somali prime minister sent his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the two slain MSF doctors and praised them for "their enormous contribution to making the lives of Somalis better."

The Somali government confirmed that the attacker was arrested at the scene carrying a gun, adding that police investigation was underway and that he will be brought to justice "at the earliest opportunity."

"This year's response from the international aid community to the disaster in Somalia ought to be commended. We welcome those who are willing to come to Somalia to work for the benefit of Somalis," Somali Prime minister also said in the statement.

The Somali government said the attack was "callous" and "a tragic example of an isolated incident," adding that it did not reflect any increased risk to international aid workers.

The Somali Prime minister reassured the international aid community that his government will "do everything we can to enable foreign aid workers to operate safely in Somalia."

Somali government said in coordination with African Union forces, they were working to improve security in the Somali capital.