MOGADISHU, Somalia May 28 (Garowe Online) - Somalia's parliament Speaker told a Thursday press conference in the capital Mogadishu that a controversial maritime agreement between Somalia and Kenya is "illegal," Radio Garowe reports.

The agreement was a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April which stipulates that the Somali government will declare "no objection" when the two countries formally submit documents to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. REPORT: Somalia-Kenya sign MoU for maritime 'area under dispute'

But Speaker Aden "Madobe" Mohamed told journalists that the agreement is "illegal" since it was not presented to the Somali parliament.

"We cannot allow the U.N. to interfere with Somali internal affairs…but we welcome efforts to restore security," the Speaker said.

He noted that the upcoming meeting of Somali MPs in Mogadishu will deal with the maritime agreement, which has stirred controversy across Somalia with Islamist insurgents using the controversial agreement to accuse government leaders of treason.

"Lawmakers will reach a decision over this controversial agreement soon," Speaker Madobe added.

Somali MPs have not met since April when insurgents targeted the temporary Somali parliament building in Mogadishu with mortars, killing soldiers and civilians.

Senior government leaders, including President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, have publicly defended the maritime agreement.

Source: Garowe Online