New Somali Prime Minister, Muhammed Guled, Resigns a Week After Appointment

New Somali prime minister resigns

2008-12-24 17:52:02

MOGADISHU, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) --

The new prime minister named by Somali President Abdullah Yousuf Ahmed has resigned from his post, a week after he was appointed to replace Prime Minister Nour Hassan Hussain, reports reaching here said on Wednesday.

Muhammed Mahmoud Guled, former interior minister, said he resigned because he did not want to be seen as "an obstacle to the peace process".

Hussain spearheaded the peace talks with the opposition which resulted in a power-sharing deal that is expected to see the formation of an inclusive parliament and the election of the new leadership for the war-torn Horn of Africa nation.

Guled was appointed last week by President Yousuf to replace Hussain whom he sacked for differences over the way in which the dialogues with the opposition were conducted.

It is not yet clear whether the president has accepted Guled's resignation.

The Somali parliament reinstated Hussain and his government in a vote of confidence on the following day while the East African regional body, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), refused to recognize Guled and fully supported Hussain and the parliament's decision.

The United States and the United Nations followed suit while Kenya and the IGAD announced they would impose sanctions on Yousuf and his associates whom they described as "an obstacle to peace".

Somali lawmakers tabled a motion last week seeking to impeach the Somali President whom they accused of "violating the national charter" and alienating some of Somalia's communities.

The President is expected to come before parliament sometime this week and answer the allegations against him.

Editor: An

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