This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7731839.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Somali head admits militant gains | Somali head admits militant gains |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed has said Islamist insurgents now control most of the country, and have advanced to the edge of Mogadishu. | Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed has said Islamist insurgents now control most of the country, and have advanced to the edge of Mogadishu. |
Mr Yusuf said there was no effective government in Somalia, and that insurgents were now able to carry out attacks in the capital at will. | Mr Yusuf said there was no effective government in Somalia, and that insurgents were now able to carry out attacks in the capital at will. |
The president was speaking to Somali parliamentarians in Kenya, a day after talks on forming a new cabinet failed. | The president was speaking to Somali parliamentarians in Kenya, a day after talks on forming a new cabinet failed. |
Last month, regional grouping Igad set a deadline of 12 November for a deal. | Last month, regional grouping Igad set a deadline of 12 November for a deal. |
The mandate of the Transitional Government of Somalia (TFG), formed in late 2004, is set to expire in August 2009. | The mandate of the Transitional Government of Somalia (TFG), formed in late 2004, is set to expire in August 2009. |
Call for unity | Call for unity |
President Yusuf was at his gloomiest on Saturday, addressing Somali MPs in neighbouring Kenya. | President Yusuf was at his gloomiest on Saturday, addressing Somali MPs in neighbouring Kenya. |
The government controls Mogadishu and Baidoa and people are killed there every day Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed | The government controls Mogadishu and Baidoa and people are killed there every day Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed |
He said the Islamist insurgency, which looked as though it had been crushed two years ago following intervention by the Ethiopian army, was now as strong as ever. | |
Members of the al-Shabab group now controlled most of the country and had advanced to the suburbs of Mogadishu, as well as Baidoa, the home town of the parliament, he said. | Members of the al-Shabab group now controlled most of the country and had advanced to the suburbs of Mogadishu, as well as Baidoa, the home town of the parliament, he said. |
"The government controls Mogadishu and Baidoa and people are killed there every day," Mr Yusuf told the meeting in Nairobi. | "The government controls Mogadishu and Baidoa and people are killed there every day," Mr Yusuf told the meeting in Nairobi. |
"Islamists have taken over everywhere else, so if I ask you parliamentarians: do you know the situation we face? Who causes all these problems? We are to blame." | "Islamists have taken over everywhere else, so if I ask you parliamentarians: do you know the situation we face? Who causes all these problems? We are to blame." |
Mr Yusuf said the al-Shabab group now controlled most of the country | Mr Yusuf said the al-Shabab group now controlled most of the country |
President Yusuf lamented that at this vital time when unity is needed, talks on forming a new transitional government had ended in failure. | President Yusuf lamented that at this vital time when unity is needed, talks on forming a new transitional government had ended in failure. |
He and Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein have been unable to agree on the make-up of a new cabinet, missing a deadline issued by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) last month. | He and Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein have been unable to agree on the make-up of a new cabinet, missing a deadline issued by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) last month. |
In the meantime members of al-Shabab, which the US believes to be linked to al-Qaeda, have consolidated their hold on southern Somalia, meting out punishments on the population based on their interpretation of Islamic law. | In the meantime members of al-Shabab, which the US believes to be linked to al-Qaeda, have consolidated their hold on southern Somalia, meting out punishments on the population based on their interpretation of Islamic law. |
They whipped 25 women and seven men for holding a traditional dance, which they said was forbidden. | They whipped 25 women and seven men for holding a traditional dance, which they said was forbidden. |
In October, a girl was stoned to death in a crowded stadium in the port city of Kismayo. Aged just 13, she had been convicted of adultery after complaining she had been raped. | In October, a girl was stoned to death in a crowded stadium in the port city of Kismayo. Aged just 13, she had been convicted of adultery after complaining she had been raped. |
Previous version
1
Next version