Somalia's Prime Minister Resigns
VOA News 21 September 2010
Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke has resigned, ending a long-running political feud with President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
Mr. Sharmarke announced his resignation Tuesday in Mogadishu, flanked by Mr. Sharif, who welcomed the decision and said he would name a new government soon.
Mr. Sharmarke said he resigned because of political turmoil and the insecurity across Somalia.
Government ministers said they hope the next government can stabilize the country. Somalia analysts are skeptical, however, saying the insurgency by Islamist militants, and a poorly-defined political system, make it hard for any government to operate effectively.
The president and prime minister had been feuding for months over a new draft constitution. The Somali parliament was scheduled to hold a no-confidence vote on Mr. Sharmarke last Saturday, but the vote was postponed.
Mr. Sharif fired the prime minister earlier this year, but was forced to reinstate him after failing to win the backing of parliament.
The government, meanwhile, is struggling to survive in the face of the insurgency. Militant groups al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam control much of southern Somalia and most of the capital. The government has held on to a few key areas with the help of African Union troops.
On Monday, a gunman with a bomb tried to sneak into the presidential palace. The Somali president's office said the intruder was shot and killed outside the inner perimeter of the compound.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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