MOGADISHU, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A senior Islamist military commander close to Sheikh Dahir Aweys, a radical insurgent leader in Somalia was on Tuesday shot dead by unknown gunmen in the Somali capital Mogadishu, insurgent officials confirmed.

Bare Ali Bare, who was a senior commander with the insurgent group of Hezbul Islam, was shot dead as he walked in the main Bakara market of Mogadishu and the attackers escaped the scene, Ibrahim Bare Mohamoud, an official with Hezbul Islam confirmed to reporters in Mogadishu.

"We know that the commander was murdered by gunmen who escaped. We are investigating the killing of Bare Ali Bare," Mohamoud told reporters.

Bare was critical of the rival Islamist group of Al Shabaab which it fought in a number of southern Somali districts and has been vocal opponent of union between a faction within Hezbul Islam and Al Shabaab.