Somalis riot after politician shot dead outside mosque

A member of Somalia’s virtually powerless government was assassinated today as he walked out of a mosque, enraging hundreds of Somalis who rioted in the streets screaming, “We want a government that can restore law and order!”

It was the second shooting of a politician this week and the latest blow to an administration that has watched helplessly as Islamic militants with alleged links to al Qaida took control of the capital and much of southern Somalia.