MOGADISHU, (Reuters) – Somalia’s government fired the  head of its police force and its military chief yesterday two  days after a suicide bomber killed three ministers and several  others in the capital of the lawless Horn of Africa nation.

Ministers had already been debating for several weeks about  replacing the two men to bolster security before a government  spokesman announced the sacking of police commander Abdi Hassan  Awale and military commander Yusuf Hussein.

“Ali Mohamed Hassan, a former ambassador was appointed as  the police commander while Mohamed Gelle Kahiye, a senior  military colonel was also appointed as Somali military  commander,” Abdi Haji Gobdon told Reuters.

Hassan was sacked in 2007 and replaced by Awale. Hussein had  been at his post for close to a year.

“The prime minister and his cabinet have agreed to make  these changes to tackle the security problems in Somalia.”

Neighbouring Kenya has stepped up police patrols in  Eastleigh, a Nairobi suburb, which is predominantly populated by  ethnic Somalis, residents said. Thursday’s hotel bombing in  Mogadishu heightened concerns about the Somalia’s ability to  destabilise the whole region.