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Somali khat protester shot dead Somali khat protester shot dead
(about 2 hours later)
Somali Islamist fighters have opened fire on a crowd, angry at a reported ban on selling the mild narcotic khat, killing one person, say eyewitnesses. Islamist fighters in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, shot at a crowd angered at shortages of the mild narcotic khat, killing one person, say eyewitnesses.
About 60 khat vendors gathered in the capital, Mogadishu, to burn tyres and throw stones before shots were fired. Khat vendors were protesting about loss of revenue since a ban on Kenyan flights to Somalia on Monday, that has led to a shortage of imported khat.
Local media reports a dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed. Kenya stopped flights to Somalia this week leading to a shortage of imported khat. The Islamists have subsequently burned two big khat consignments which were flown in from elsewhere this week.
The Islamic courts have tried to outlaw khat since they rose to power in June.The Islamic courts have tried to outlaw khat since they rose to power in June.
They say it encourages immorality. The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) that now rules the capital says khat encourages immorality.
Most khat, chewed by many Somali men, especially the gunmen who have fought for control of the country for the last 15 years, was flown in from neighbouring Kenya. Most khat, chewed by many Somali men - especially the gunmen who have fought for control of the country for the last 15 years - was flown in from neighbouring Kenya.
But on Monday, Kenya banned all flights to Somalia, citing security fears. Kenya banned all flights to Somalia, citing security fears.
There were six flights a week from Nairobi to Mogadishu and services to three other towns and many more khat flights each day.There were six flights a week from Nairobi to Mogadishu and services to three other towns and many more khat flights each day.
According to the Union of Islamic Courts' website the flight ban has seen mosque attendance rise at prayer times. Curfew
'Boy killed' The khat protesters were burning tyres and throwing stones before shots were fired.
Before the protest began, Islamists seized sacks of khat to be burned. I saw an injured man lying on the ground, he was bleeding profusely Mogadishu resident Ali Suleiman
"We were demonstrating against the ban on the sale of khat that hurts the livelihoods of many people...[and] they opened fire on us," protester Nur Aden Wajishe told AFP news agency. "We were demonstrating... [when] they opened fire on us," protester Nur Aden Wajishe told AFP news agency.
Other eyewitnesses described seeing a person die of their bullet wounds and several others injured in the shooting. Other eyewitnesses described seeing a person die of bullet wounds and several others injured in the shooting.
"A 13-year-old boy was killed," resident Ali Suleiman told Reuters news agency."A 13-year-old boy was killed," resident Ali Suleiman told Reuters news agency.
"I saw an injured man lying on the ground, he was bleeding profusely," he said."I saw an injured man lying on the ground, he was bleeding profusely," he said.
The Somali Shabeelle website says the curfew was imposed to increase security after the deadly demonstration. The BBC's Hassan Barise in Mogadishu says a dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on the city.
The consignment of khat burned on Tuesday at an airport 50km south of Mogadishu was estimated to be worth $40,000 and to have originated from Ethiopia, local media reports.
Wednesday's shipment was incinerated because it landed at Mogadishu's main airport where khat imports are not allowed, officials say.
Mosque attendance
The Islamists have taken control of most of southern Somalia since seizing the capital in June.The Islamists have taken control of most of southern Somalia since seizing the capital in June.
Many Mogadishu residents have welcomed their rule as they have brought law and order to the city after years of anarchy.Many Mogadishu residents have welcomed their rule as they have brought law and order to the city after years of anarchy.
As well as banning khat, the Islamists have been closing public cinemas and, according to some residents, enforcing strict dress codes. Khat has not been officially banned in the capital as it has by Islamist hardliners in Kismayo, south of Mogadishu.
But according to the Union of Islamic Courts' website, Kenya's flight ban has seen mosque attendance rise at prayer times.
In some parts of the country, Islamists have been closing public cinemas and, according to some residents, enforcing strict dress codes.
There are fears of a regional conflict starting in Somalia, as Ethiopia backs the weak interim government based in the city of Baidoa and its rival Eritrea is accused of arming the Islamists.There are fears of a regional conflict starting in Somalia, as Ethiopia backs the weak interim government based in the city of Baidoa and its rival Eritrea is accused of arming the Islamists.