|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Last Updated: Apr 3, 2012 - 2:47:55 AM |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Somalia: Lawmakers meet President Sharif over Speaker row
21 Apr 21, 2010 - 12:27:52 PM
|
More than 300 Somali lawmakers have handed over a motion of impeachment against speaker Sheikh Adan Madobe to President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as political bickering heats up in the war-ravaged capital Mogadishu, Radio Garowe reports.
The lawmakers met Sharif at the presidential palace Villa Somalia on Monday, where they asked him to intervene and save his fragile government from collapse.
"Sheikh Sharif told us that he would study the motion and get back to us as soon as possible," Somali MP Abdiadir Shiddo told reporters.
"The motion is in accordance to the law, and we are using clauses in the constitution to back our position. We can’t allow any individual to be above the law," said Omar Mohammed Islow, who was also among the lawmakers who met President Sharif.
The lawmakers argue that the term of the current Spekaer expired on August 2009, and would only allow him to hold the position through voting.
"Sheikh Adan Madobe was elected by 275 members, but he is supposed to get the vote of all 550 current sitting members, just like the way Sheikh Sharif did," added Islow.
The lawmakers said they are determined to elect an elder among them to hold the position in the meantime before a new election is held.
However, Speaker Adan Madobe on Tuesday came out defending his position, accusing the lawmakers, who initiated the motion against him, of having agendas to derail the government and hand over the country to the rebels.
“The lawmakers behind this plan are ones that want to the government to collapse so that the opposition would gain momentum,” he said, adding that some lawmakers are Al-Shabaab sympathizers.
Sheikh Madobe said the speaker shares same constitutional mandate with the parliament, vowing not to bow to pressure of resignation call.
“I am the speaker, and I will only relinquish my position when the term of the parliament expires. If the Somali people request me to step aside then I will comply but not to any other party,” he added.
The parliament is set to meet on Thursday for the first time since several months and the stage is set for battle of supremacy between pro-Madobe lawmakers on one side and several other MPs who are getting backings from top TFG officials including President sharif on the other side.
Somali president is said to be backing a bid to elect his right hand man, current Finance Minister Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan as the speaker.
The internal rife between top Somali leadership has derailed efforts by the UN-backed transition government to spread its reign in most part of the war-torn country, which is currently held by the insurgents.
GAROWE ONLINE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
