BAIDOA, Somalia — A Somali legislator was fatally shot outside a mosque Friday, the latest blow to a virtually powerless administration that has watched helplessly as Islamic militants have taken over much of the country. Abdallah Isaaq Deerow, Somalia's minister for constitutional and federal affairs, was shot by an unidentified gunmen, who then escaped, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene. Mr. Deerow was not among 18 key ministers who resigned Thursday, saying the government has failed to bring peace to this chaotic African nation. Government officials were not immediately available for comment. Police said they were investigating.UPDATE: BAIDOA, Somalia — Hundreds of people rioted Friday near the headquarters of Somalia's weak government after a Cabinet minister was fatally shot outside a mosque. People began streaming into the streets and setting fires just hours after the killing of Abdallah Isaaq Deerow, Somalia's minister for constitutional and federal affairs. A gunman shot Deerow several times in the chest, then escaped. A 35-year-old man was later arrested, said Baidoa police chief Aadin Biid.
"We condemn this wicked action, and the government will chase the murderers and treat them with an iron hand," said the government's information minister, Mohamed Abdi Hayir.
The shooting was the second this week of a lawmaker in Baidoa, the only town controlled by the fragile administration. Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed, chairman of the parliamentary committee for constitutional affairs, was wounded Wednesday night. It was not clear whether the shootings were connected or related to politics in this chaotic Horn of Africa nation.
Additional: MOGADISHU, July 28 (Reuters) - Mogadishu's Islamist rulers denied on Friday they were behind the assassination of a government minister, saying Ethiopia was responsible for the killing to destabilise its neighbour.
"We are not involved in that kind of assassination," a top Islamist leader, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, told reporters. "Ethiopia is behind the killing because its trained militia killed the minister," added Ahmed, who is chairman of the Council of Islamic Courts of Somalia.
Earlier, gunmen shot dead Somalia's Constitution and Federalism Minister Abdallah Deerow Isaq outside a mosque at the fragile interim government's provincial base, Baidoa, in what a cabinet colleague called a "terrorist action". One suspect was later arrested, but the government has not said who it believes was behind the killing.