Photos: Former Somali defence minister killed in a car bomb, Al-Shabaab takes responsibility

Former Somali defense minister Muhidin Mohamed Haji was killed today, Monday February 15, in a car blast in Mogadishu's KM4 neighbourhood. According to a police officer at the scene, the bomb had been planted underneath his car.

 Islamist terror group Al- Shabaab has taken responsibility for the attack, with its spokesman Sheik Anbdiasis Abu Musab telling Reuters that they are behind his killing. Haji was defence minister in 208 during Somalia's trnsitional federal government, which was backed by United Nations.

He had fought alongside peacekeepers to push Al-Shabaab out of Mogadishu and other major cities. Until his death, Haji worked as an adviser for the Somali Federal parliament.