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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Somali 'prime minister' resigns | Somali 'prime minister' resigns |
| (about 15 hours later) | |
| A Somali official named prime minister by President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed last week has quit, saying his appointment was destabilising the government. | A Somali official named prime minister by President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed last week has quit, saying his appointment was destabilising the government. |
| Mohamed Mahamud Guled said he had chosen to resign "so that I am not seen as a stumbling block to the peace process which is going well now". | Mohamed Mahamud Guled said he had chosen to resign "so that I am not seen as a stumbling block to the peace process which is going well now". |
| Not long after the announcement, Mr Yusuf said he too intended to resign. | Not long after the announcement, Mr Yusuf said he too intended to resign. |
| Mr Guled was appointed in defiance of Somali MPs, who said the dismissal of Nur Hassan Hussein had been illegal. | Mr Guled was appointed in defiance of Somali MPs, who said the dismissal of Nur Hassan Hussein had been illegal. |
| The president had clashed in recent months with Mr Nur over attempts to negotiate a peace deal with the Islamist-led armed opposition. | The president had clashed in recent months with Mr Nur over attempts to negotiate a peace deal with the Islamist-led armed opposition. |
| Earlier this week, East African leaders imposed sanctions on President Yusuf. | Earlier this week, East African leaders imposed sanctions on President Yusuf. |
| At a meeting in Addis Ababa, the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (Igad) said it would not recognise the unconstitutional appointment of Mr Guled, and gave its backing to Mr Nur. | At a meeting in Addis Ababa, the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (Igad) said it would not recognise the unconstitutional appointment of Mr Guled, and gave its backing to Mr Nur. |
| The grouping also called on other countries to take similar measures. | The grouping also called on other countries to take similar measures. |
| The BBC's East Africa correspondent Karen Allen says it is a sign of just how exasperated the international community has become with a country which has been in the grips of a power struggle for the past 17 years. | The BBC's East Africa correspondent Karen Allen says it is a sign of just how exasperated the international community has become with a country which has been in the grips of a power struggle for the past 17 years. |
| 'Consultations' | 'Consultations' |
| President Yusuf told members of parliament who are loyal to him that he intended to hand in his resignation on Saturday. | |
| I want the government to remain in power and differences among its leaders to be sorted out Mohamed Mahamud Guled Profile: President Abdullahi Yusuf | I want the government to remain in power and differences among its leaders to be sorted out Mohamed Mahamud Guled Profile: President Abdullahi Yusuf |
| Splits have paralysed his Western-backed administration at a time when Islamist insurgents appear to be growing stronger by the day. | Splits have paralysed his Western-backed administration at a time when Islamist insurgents appear to be growing stronger by the day. |
| Earlier, speaking to reporters in the town of Baidoa, Mr Guled said that "after evaluating the current situation", he had decided to resign as prime minister. | Earlier, speaking to reporters in the town of Baidoa, Mr Guled said that "after evaluating the current situation", he had decided to resign as prime minister. |
| "I stood down so that I am not seen as a stumbling block to the peace process which is going on well now," he added. | "I stood down so that I am not seen as a stumbling block to the peace process which is going on well now," he added. |
| "I want the government to remain in power and differences among its leaders to be sorted out." | "I want the government to remain in power and differences among its leaders to be sorted out." |
| Responding to a question on whether he initiated any projects during his short tenure, Mr Guled said that he had done nothing apart from engaging in "consultations that led to my resignation". | Responding to a question on whether he initiated any projects during his short tenure, Mr Guled said that he had done nothing apart from engaging in "consultations that led to my resignation". |
| The former interior minister said he hoped the president would accept his decision, and that he would remain a member of parliament. | The former interior minister said he hoped the president would accept his decision, and that he would remain a member of parliament. |
| When Mr Yusuf sacked Mr Nur, he said it was because his government had been "paralysed by corruption, inefficiency and treason" and had failed to bring peace. | When Mr Yusuf sacked Mr Nur, he said it was because his government had been "paralysed by corruption, inefficiency and treason" and had failed to bring peace. |
| However, Somalia's parliament declared the sacking illegal and passed a vote of confidence in Mr Nur by a huge majority the following day. | However, Somalia's parliament declared the sacking illegal and passed a vote of confidence in Mr Nur by a huge majority the following day. |
| Nur Hassan Hussein said the president did not have the power to sack him | Nur Hassan Hussein said the president did not have the power to sack him |
| Mr Nur was appointed prime minister in November 2007 to replace Ali Mohamed Ghedi, who had clashed with the president after refusing to negotiate with armed Islamists and other opposition groups. | Mr Nur was appointed prime minister in November 2007 to replace Ali Mohamed Ghedi, who had clashed with the president after refusing to negotiate with armed Islamists and other opposition groups. |
| He was previously chairman of Somalia's Red Crescent Society. | He was previously chairman of Somalia's Red Crescent Society. |
| The African Union and the UN secretary-general have both described the political in-fighting as disruptive to the peace process, currently under way in neighbouring Djibouti. | The African Union and the UN secretary-general have both described the political in-fighting as disruptive to the peace process, currently under way in neighbouring Djibouti. |
| Somalia has not had a functioning national government since President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. | Somalia has not had a functioning national government since President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. |
| Ethiopian troops intervened two years ago to oust Islamists from Mogadishu, and install the transitional government. | Ethiopian troops intervened two years ago to oust Islamists from Mogadishu, and install the transitional government. |
| But it is now in disarray and only controls parts of the capital and the town of Baidoa after recent advances by different Islamist groups. | But it is now in disarray and only controls parts of the capital and the town of Baidoa after recent advances by different Islamist groups. |
| The "irrevocable" departure of the Ethiopian troops from the country over the coming weeks has added to fears of further instability. | The "irrevocable" departure of the Ethiopian troops from the country over the coming weeks has added to fears of further instability. |
| On Monday, the African Union agreed to keep its small peacekeeping force in place for a further two months, but did not say how it would cover for the imminent Ethiopian withdrawal. | On Monday, the African Union agreed to keep its small peacekeeping force in place for a further two months, but did not say how it would cover for the imminent Ethiopian withdrawal. |