Mogadishu — The weapons that the US government donated to the Somalia's Transitional Federal Government is being sold in the market, according to a trader who asked Garowe Online to be quoted anonymously.

"The TFG weapons on sale are light weapons. We bought the weapons from officers of the TFG at very steep price, and we sell them at higher price because anti-TFG forces such Al-Shabab buy weapon," says the Cirtoogte market trader.

In July 2009 the US government gave the struggling TFG arms to defend itself against Al-Shabab and Hizbul-Islam forces. Spokesman for the US State Department stated the his government had given Somalia " 40 tons of arms".

Traders at Cirtoogte market told Garowe Online that the new weapons on sale at the market are from the presidential palace ( Villa Somalia).

The pro-government website jowhar.com reported yesterday that light weapons on sale in the market were delivered by the TFG troops.

The TFG has not so far commented on allegations that government weapons "are on sale at Cirtoogte Market in Mogadishu ".

The United States reiterated its support for the TFG in a meeting last week between the Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and the US Secretary of State, Hililary Clinton in Nairobi.