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Somali leader rushed to hospital Somali leader rushed to hospital
(40 minutes later)
Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf has been taken to hospital in the Kenyan capital, the BBC has learnt.Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf has been taken to hospital in the Kenyan capital, the BBC has learnt.
His condition is said to be "serious" but there are no further details. He had a liver transplant in the 1990s.His condition is said to be "serious" but there are no further details. He had a liver transplant in the 1990s.
He was named president in 2004 after protracted peace talks in Kenya but has not been able to end years of conflict.He was named president in 2004 after protracted peace talks in Kenya but has not been able to end years of conflict.
Mr Yusuf's Ethiopia-backed government is battling Islamist insurgents and the UN says that more than one million people are homeless in Somalia.Mr Yusuf's Ethiopia-backed government is battling Islamist insurgents and the UN says that more than one million people are homeless in Somalia.
"The Somali president has been admitted here. He is in serious condition," a hospital official, who declined to be identified, told the AFP news agency."The Somali president has been admitted here. He is in serious condition," a hospital official, who declined to be identified, told the AFP news agency.
But presidential aides have tried to downplay his condition, saying he is "fine". But presidential aides have denied he is seriously ill, saying he is "fine".
He is to be flown to London for treatment and has cancelled a meeting on Wednesday with regional leaders.He is to be flown to London for treatment and has cancelled a meeting on Wednesday with regional leaders.
Mr Yusuf, 72, had been due to travel to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa for Wednesday's meeting between regional leaders and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.Mr Yusuf, 72, had been due to travel to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa for Wednesday's meeting between regional leaders and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
InadequateInadequate
The news comes as four ministers resigned from the cabinet named by Mr Yusuf's newly appointed Prime Minister Nur Hussein Hassan.The news comes as four ministers resigned from the cabinet named by Mr Yusuf's newly appointed Prime Minister Nur Hussein Hassan.
The ministers complained that their Rahanwein clan was under-represented in the government.The ministers complained that their Rahanwein clan was under-represented in the government.
Some one million Somalis are living rough, the UN saysSome one million Somalis are living rough, the UN says
Mr Yusuf is a northerner, from Puntland, and a member of the Darod clan, who had been an army commander during Siad Barre's rule and subsequently a guerrilla leader.Mr Yusuf is a northerner, from Puntland, and a member of the Darod clan, who had been an army commander during Siad Barre's rule and subsequently a guerrilla leader.
President Yusuf controversially enlisted the help of the Ethiopian army to oust the Union of Islamic Courts from the capital, Mogadishu in December 2006.President Yusuf controversially enlisted the help of the Ethiopian army to oust the Union of Islamic Courts from the capital, Mogadishu in December 2006.
The past year has seen increasing levels of violence as the Islamists battle the Ethiopian-backed government, rendering Mogadishu too unsafe for the government which has been forced to operate out of Baidoa.The past year has seen increasing levels of violence as the Islamists battle the Ethiopian-backed government, rendering Mogadishu too unsafe for the government which has been forced to operate out of Baidoa.
On Monday, UN humanitarian affairs chief John Holmes said the international response to the situation in Somalia had been inadequate.On Monday, UN humanitarian affairs chief John Holmes said the international response to the situation in Somalia had been inadequate.
"This is obviously a very serious humanitarian situation in Somalia," he said."This is obviously a very serious humanitarian situation in Somalia," he said.
Mr Holmes said the security situation was hampering relief efforts.Mr Holmes said the security situation was hampering relief efforts.
"There are checkpoints everywhere and aid agencies are stopped at these points and at times charged a lot of money.""There are checkpoints everywhere and aid agencies are stopped at these points and at times charged a lot of money."
Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991.Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991.