Somali PM warns regional leaders

Somalia's Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi has said his government is prepared to use
force to confront powerful leaders turned legislators who he accuses of trying to
undermine the peace process from their bases in the capital.

In a radio broadcast on Sunday, Gedi also urged government members to leave the
Somali capital and join him in the southern town of Jowhar, where he has temporarily
set up operations because Mogadishu is considered unsafe.
 

On Friday, Somalia's president and parliamentary speaker ended talks in Yemen
without resolving differences that have split the transitional government as it
struggles to set up operations after returning home from exile.
 

President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and parliament Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden
failed to agree on where the government should be based and on the involvement of
troops from neighbouring countries in a regional force that would be sent to
stabilise the country.

Capital question
The president wants government to set up in Jowhar, about 60 miles northwest of the
capital. The speaker, however, insists they be in the capital, as provided in the
transitional constitution. The speaker has set up operations in Mogadishu, together
with more than 100 legislators who are pressing the president, prime minister and
the rest of the cabinet and parliament to follow suit.

"There is no division within the government, but few individuals are trying to
sabotage the Somali peace process," Gedi said during the radio address marking the
independence of the Somalia's northern regions from British colonial rule. "We urge
them to join the majority of members of the government - if not, we will confront
them by force with the support of Somali people." The president and speaker also
failed to agree on the presence of troops from neighbouring countries, including
Ethiopia, in a regional force that would be sent to secure the government and key
installations, help disarm thousands of militia fighters and train security forces.
State of chaos The president supports troops from neighbouring countries. Powerful leaders turned
cabinet ministers who control Mogadishu and other legislators disagree. Somalia has
not had an effective central government since clan-based leaders overthrew ruler
Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. The leaders then turned on each other, plunging the
country of seven million into chaos.
The transitional government has been based in the Kenyan capital Nairobi since it
was set up last year because Mogadishu is too insecure. Gedi, lawmakers and members
of his cabinet returned home On 18 June, setting up operations in Jowhar. The
president, though, has yet to return home.

Source: Aljazeera. Net