Somalia
Somalia: Lawmakers to appoint new speaker soon
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Apr 26, 2010 - 4:36:43 PM

Some 315 Somali lawmakers have promised to held parliamentary sittings, without the current speaker in the coming days as power struggle continues to derail the work of the fragile government in Mogadishu.
 
In a statement released after meeting in Mogadishu on Monday, the lawmakers said the plans are set for their meeting which would held in ‘a secure place’.
 
“We are planning to hold our parliament sitting in a secure place and elect a new speaker with or without the consent of the president and the current speaker,” said lawmaker Omar Islow, who was among the MPs met in Mogadishu.
 
The lawmakers also met with President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed to discuss the motion against speaker Sheikh Adan Mohammed Nur (Madobe). They said the president has urged them to calm the situation at the parliament and look for consensus.
 
Lawmaker Ma’alin Jiis, who is among those oppose to Sheikh Adan Madobe, said they would not compromise their stand, which he said was in accordance to the law.
 
On the other hand, The United Nations Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah has expressed his dismay at the current ongoing disputes in Parliament.  
 
“I am following, with great unease, the unhelpful debate about Parliamentary issues now taking place in Mogadishu… I deplore the time and energy wasted on arguments which could be devoted to resolving more pressing issues at hand,” he said in a statement.
 
He called on the leadership of TFG and Parliament to 'see beyond their differences and concentrate on addressing normal government tasks that affect the population, both inside and outside the country'.
 
The current speaker has insisted that he would not bow to the pressure of relinquishing his position even though he has the support of at least 40 parliamentarians.
 
The dispute between top Somali officials has derailed the work of the UN-backed government, which is faced with daunting task of restoring peace and order in the war-torn country.
 
A powerful insurgency that erupted in early 2007, that has so far claimed the lives of more than 21,000 people, is also threatening to unseat the fragile government.

GAROWE ONLINE


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