KISMAYO, Somalia Oct 13 (Garowe Online) - Islamist fighters in Somalia's southern port city of Kismayo used excessive force to kill a well-known local clan militia commander Sunday night, local sources told Garowe Online.

Salah "OJ" Hassan was arrested two days ago and was being kept at the city's main police station, where Islamist gunmen kept watch.

Traditional elders from the Harti clan met Kismayo's Islamist city officials and requested the victim's release on grounds that he reached a peace deal with the Islamic Courts movement about past conflicts, inside sources said.

According to witnesses, Salah OJ was allowed to leave the police station and was seen walking outside when a hail of bullets erupted suddenly.

A confidential source told Garowe Online that "30 bullets" had hit different parts of the victim's body.

"It was overkill with possible political consequences," the source said, while underlining that local clan militias were instrumental in the Islamists' seizure of Kismayo last August.

The late Salah OJ was based in the island of Kudhaa, but was visiting Kismayo for personal reasons when he was arrested by Islamist militiamen.

In recent years, he led Harti clan militias who fought bitter wars against Islamist fighters led by Sheikh Hassan Turki and clan militias loyal to ex-Kismayo ruler Col. Barre Hirale.

Although Salah OJ was not a member of the Somali government, he was accused by the Islamists of having ties to American spies.

The Islamist-appointed Kismayo administration has not commented yet on the brutal execution.

Source: Garowe Online