Wednesday, August 13, 2003

New Somali government expected in 14 days
NAIROBI, 12 Aug. 2003 (Reuters)-- Somalia's prime minister said on Tuesday he expected leaders to form a new government uniting Somalia's many factions within two weeks, despite opposition from the country's president.

Prime Minister Hassan Abshir Farah said he hoped President Abdiqassim Salad Hassan would participate in the planned government, which is due to replace an existing interim administration whose mandate expires on Wednesday.MORE
SOMALIA: TNG hangs in the balance as mandate ends
NAIROBI, 12 Aug 2003 (IRIN) - Uncertainty hung over Somalia's Transitional National Government (TNG) on Tuesday after prime minister Hassan Abshir Farah announced that the TNG's mandate would finish on Wednesday at the end of its three-year term.

But TNG President Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, who sacked Hassan Abshir along with parliament speaker Abdallah Derow Isaak at the weekend, has said the interim government will continue until new institutions are formed through free and fair elections. Last month, Abdiqassim walked out of peace talks underway in Kenya saying they were leading towards the "dismemberment" of Somalia. MORE