MOGADISHU, Somalia Mar 13 (Garowe Online) - Three individuals including a police officer were shot to death in Somalia's violent capital Thursday, locals and officials said.

An Islamic school teacher was killed by a group of men dressed in military fatigues, who took away his mobile telephone, according to witnesses.

The teacher was shot several times moments after he walked out of a local store, where he reportedly bought phone cards.

In a separate incident, a local musician named Adan Hassan Salad was killed while drinking tea at a shop.

Relatives said the victim had stopped making music and was a working for his family. There was no motive for the killing and the perpetrators escaped.

In west Mogadishu, a government police officer tasked with collecting local taxes was killed by suspected insurgents, who used pistols in the murder before fleeing.

Witnesses said police reinforcements arrested several young men in connection with the fatal shooting.

Killings continue in Mogadishu, despite the presence of an interim government backed by thousands of Ethiopian combat troops.

Source: Garowe Online