Somalia’s president quits from his office
Güncelleme Tarihi:
The Associated Press
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 30, 2008 00:00
MOGADISHU - The president of Somalia's U.N.-backed government resigned yesterday, saying he had lost control of the country to Islamic insurgents and could not fulfill his duties after four years leading the violent and impoverished nation. Within hours of the announcement, mortars shells were raining down near the presidential palace in the capital, Mogadishu.
Abdullahi Yusuf announced his resignation to parliament in Baidoa - one of the only Somali towns controlled by the weak government, which has been sidelined by an increasingly powerful Islamic insurgency. The parliament speaker will stand in as acting president until Somalia can hold elections.
Yusuf said in an address broadcast on radio nationwide that he could not unite Somalia's bickering leadership, and that the country was "paralyzed."
"Most of the country is not in our hands," Yusuf said. "After seeing all these things I have finally quit."
His administration failed to bring security to the war-ravaged nation and now controls only Baidoa and pockets of Mogadishu. The most aggressive Islamic insurgency group, al-Shabab, has made dramatic territory gains in the past few months, and insurgents now control most of the country.
More chaos possible
In a statement Monday, al-Shabab said Yusuf was resigning "with shame." Yusuf's resignation could usher in more political and violent chaos as various Islamic militias jockey for position and power.
Thousands of civilians have been killed or maimed by mortar shells and grenades in near-daily fighting in this arid, Horn of Africa country. The U.N. says Somalia has 300,000 acutely malnourished children, but attacks and kidnappings of aid workers have shut down many humanitarian projects.
Yusuf said in an address broadcast on radio nationwide that he could not unite Somalia's bickering leadership, and that the country was "paralyzed."
"Most of the country is not in our hands," Yusuf said. "After seeing all these things I have finally quit."
His administration failed to bring security to the war-ravaged nation and now controls only Baidoa and pockets of Mogadishu. The most aggressive Islamic insurgency group, al-Shabab, has made dramatic territory gains in the past few months, and insurgents now control most of the country.
More chaos possible
In a statement Monday, al-Shabab said Yusuf was resigning "with shame." Yusuf's resignation could usher in more political and violent chaos as various Islamic militias jockey for position and power.
Thousands of civilians have been killed or maimed by mortar shells and grenades in near-daily fighting in this arid, Horn of Africa country. The U.N. says Somalia has 300,000 acutely malnourished children, but attacks and kidnappings of aid workers have shut down many humanitarian projects.