Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf named a new prime minister today, ignoring a decision by parliament to reinstate sacked premier Nur Hassan Hussein and further deepening rifts in the fragile government.
Mr Yusuf named former interior minister Mohamed Mohamud Guled as prime minister in the central town of Baidoa, where the country's parliament sits.
Mr Yusuf sacked Mr Hussein on Sunday after they disagreed on a new cabinet demanded by donor countries and regional leaders. But parliament reinstated Mr Hussein yesterday, worsening the split at the top of the already weak Western-backed government.
"As I had promised to appoint a prime minister within three days I have appointed Mohamed Mohamud Guled," Mr Yusuf said on local radio.
"Having seen the wrong decisions parliament took yesterday ... I nominated Guled to replace former prime minister Nur Adde," he said.
The interim government is battling Islamist insurgents who control the south of the Horn of Africa nation and are camped on the outskirts of the capital Mogadishu.
Reuters