09/09/08 (B464-B) Shabelle / Un parlementaire somalien affirme que l’Assemblée n’avait aucune raison de demander au Président et au Premier Ministre de s’expliquer devant elle, avant de signer un accord de réconciliation à Addis Abeba. Somali MP says it was off beam MPs to demand leader’s inquiries (En Anglais – Info lecteur)

One of Somalia’s legislative body members has slammed MPs to insist on the president and the prime minister to come before the parliament after they signed peace agreement in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Speaking to Shabelle radio From Bado town, the seat of Somali parliament Salah Noh Ismael “Badbado” has stated that it was inappropriate to call the PM and the president before the parliament by the MPs saying” They (Leaders) have a right to fix on what they agreed.

“MPs should know their works concern” Badbado said.

The MP’s remarks come following the MPs have jeered the president after they informed to the top leaders of the transitional government to stand before the parliament to raise questions regarding the agreement they signed.

The two officials signed an agreement in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in the last month after more than a week of talks mediated by Somalia’s powerful neighbour.

But dozens of MPs shouted them down as they tried to explain details of the agreement to end their long-running dispute, which had jeopardised the workings of the fragile interim parliament.

« We don’t want to listen to you, » the MPs shouted.

Parliament speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur called for a vote and those in favor of listening to the two leaders won.

« I have been fighting for 40 years in the politics of Somalia. I am no longer a fighter and want to see a peaceful Somalia, » Yusuf told parliament.

« We agreed in Addis Ababa to continue working together with the prime minister and the speaker, we truly agreed, » Yusuf said.

Simmering disputes between Yusuf and Nur worsened last month when the prime minister sacked Mogadishu’s mayor Mohamed Omar Habeb– a close ally of Yusuf — over graft allegations.

The move backfired when pro-Yusuf cabinet members resigned, accusing the prime minister of misusing state resources.

« We will continue to work under a new sprit of togetherness and we need your cooperation, » Hussein said.

Since it was created in 2004, Somalia’s internationally-backed transitional federal government has been plagued by internecine squabbling.

The country has also been blighted by a deadly guerrilla conflict since Ethiopian forces backed government troops in late 2006 to oust an Islamist movement.

Power struggles that erupted after the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre have scuppered numerous initiatives to restore national stability.