MOGADISHU (SD) – Somalia’s Minister of Internal Security Abdullahi Mohamed Nur has tonight suspended the country’s police chief Gen. Abdi Hassan Hijaar.

A statement from the security minister’s office said the reason for the move was that Gen. Abdi Hassan Hijaar had tried to obstruct the parliamentary election scheduled for today.

Somalia’s security minister also accused the police chief of meddling in political affairs, especially in the elections, and for serving unspecified personal interest.

In a statement, the security minister named the acting police chief as Somalia’s deputy police chief, and ordered the police and security forces to stay away from politics.

The minister’s move comes after Somali police chief General Abdi Hassan Hijar suggested postponing the parliamentary speaker’s election on Wednesday, due to security concerns.