afrol News, 16 December - Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf has named the former Interior minister Mohamed Mohamud Guled as new prime minister going against decision by the parliament to reinstate the sacked Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein.

In a special session Monday, parliamentarians voted 143 to 20 with seven abstentions to keep Mr Hussein in office. The Somali transitional federal agreement states that the president needs approval from the parliament to dismiss the prime minister.

President Yusuf kicked out Mr Hussein and his ministers on Sunday accusing them of corruption, inefficiency and treason.

In keeping up his promise and appointing the prime minister within three days of sacking Mr Hussein, he appointed Mr Guled, local media said.

The split between the two leaders has spread to parliament, with the supporters of president Yusuf having previously threatened to pass a vote of no-confidence in the prime minister.

In a statement, African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping said the long dragging dispute between President Yusuf and Prime Minister Hussein could undermine efforts to stabilise troubled Somalia and establish peace.

The government recently reached a peace deal with a moderate Islamist group, the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. But hardline Islamists rejected the deal and have continued taking over towns in the country's center and south.

Mr Nur was appointed prime minister in November 2007 to replace Ali Mohamed Ghedi, who had refused to negotiate with armed Islamists and other opposition groups.

Somalia has been without an effective central government for nearly two decades and has become a hub for pirates who seize ships for ransom in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

The government has also been battling Islamic insurgency over two year involving Ethiopian backed government troops, a conflict that has killed thousands, forcing millions to flee their homes as rebels advance to the capital, Mogadishu.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories