Nephew of Faroole tries to assassinate nephew of A.Yusuf

[Fall]

Abdi Dahir Yusuf, one of the contesting presidential candidates in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland has said that he has escaped assassination attempt by the current president's special guards in Garowe.

Members of President Abdurahman Faroole's special guards disguised as police attacked a convoy transporting Abdi Dahir Yusuf who is an active opposition candidate in the centre of the town of Garowe, the state's capital on Sunday.

The candidate's convoy was attacked shortly after he left a meeting with the other rival candidates in Garowe.

"As I left the meeting, I heard two bullets coming from a car of the presidential guards whom I know very well. The two bullets were directly targeted to my car, One bullet came through the car and crashed the window mirror and my driver was slightly wounded." Abdi Dahir Yusuf said in an interview with local radio.

Abfi Dahir said that he escaped unhurt while he recognized the commander of the attackers who was identified as Omar Abdullahi Farole, the nephew of President Faroole. Mr Omar is the officer in charge for the security of Garowe's Presidential House.

Mr Abdi Dahir Yusuf said that the attack was deliberateaction against his candidacysince he has publicly criticized president Faroole's poor performance in the public offices.

Later on Sunday, Omar Abdullahi Faroole admitted that his men shot vehicles transporting Mr Abdi Dahir Yusuf, but he said that they meant only to stop the speedy convoy passing near the UN compound in Garowe.

Local analysts say that the attack showed lack of independence of the security forces operating in Garowe during the upcoming election days as far as other candidates begun to worry on their security due to uncontrolled president Faroike's special guards who might target contesting candidates in the town.

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