MOGADISHU, May 17 – Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Monday told reporters he would appoint a new prime minister in a bid to end a deepening political crisis in his country\’s transitional government.
He announced the move — which comes without the current prime minister resigning or being sacked — at a press conference during which the speaker of parliament also resigned.
"I am going to name a new prime minister who will form a government which will help the country overcome these difficult times," Sharif told reporters gathered at the presidential palace in Mogadishu.
"As you know, the country has been in political turmoil and we need to end that crisis," he said, without formally sacking the current government.
A bitter dispute within Somalia\’s fragile transitional federal institutions flared over the weekend when Parliament Speaker Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur blamed Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke for the country\’s woes.
Parliamentarians, angered by the speaker\’s comments, passed a vote of no confidence against him and appointed a temporary replacement.
The parliament speaker then declared that Somalia was without government before joining Sharif in Monday\’s press conference and offering his resignation.
"In order to avoid causing trouble for the country in these difficult times, I decided to compromise and leave my position as speaker," Nur said.
It was unclear whether Somalia\’s prime minister and parliament would accept the president\’s call for a new government.
According to Somalia\’s transitional charter, the sacking of a prime minister should be submitted to parliament.
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