Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Mohamed Dheere, a former warlord who has run the anarchic capital since early last year, is seen as a close ally of President Abdullahi Yusuf. A senior official said Yusuf had not approved Dheere's dismissal.

Dheere's fighters have been heavily involved in battles against Islamist rebels.

Government spokesman Abdi Haji Gobdon said Dheere was fired by Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein over alleged mis-use of funds and worsening insecurity in the city.

Gobdon told reporters Yusuf had approved the prime minister's order, but senior government sources contested that.

"President Yusuf has not approved the decree dismissing the mayor at all," one senior official said, adding that there were tensions between Yusuf and Hussein behind the scenes.

Their government is plagued by rebels who have waged an Iraq-style insurgency of mortar strikes, roadside bombings and assassinations since they were driven from Mogadishu by allied Somali-Ethiopian forces at the start of last year.

Dheere told reporters that he was content to have lost his job -- provided Yusuf agreed he leave -- because it showed the Horn of Africa nation's government was working as it should.

"My post was handed to my brother and tomorrow it will be given to another person," he said. "I have made lots of progress in the city and the new mayor will continue from there."

Somalia has not had a functioning central government since warlords toppled a military dictator in 1991.

The latest violence has killed more than 8,000 civilians and uprooted 1 million more since early last year.

(Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)

Source: Reuters, July 30, 2008

nomadic1 @ 8/1/2008 4:42 AM EST  Arrawello Waxaa yaab iyo naxdin ah in dowlad uu madaxwynheeda ugu horeeyo aysan garanayn meesha ay ku egtahay shaqadoodo. Waxaad hada wax fiican nooga dhigaysaa in rasal wasaarihii wadanka uusan ruqsayn karin oday magaalo. madaxwaynihiina sharciga uusan u hogaasamayninn oo uu wax walba is hortaagayo xitaa haday tahay a trivial thing like sacking the incompetent Habeeb.

Arraweelo10 @ 7/31/2008 1:45 PM EST  Shanta waa runtaa, awoowgey ayaa caalin ahaa ma shaqeynayso. Mida kale suuqa waxaa ku jirta in Maxamed Dheere burintiisi uu Cabdulahi Yusuf is hortaagayo, oo hadda mashaqo hor leh ay bilaabato. Inkastoo aan aniga aaminsan nahay ninkaas meel xun ayaa looga dhacay, maadaama hawlo badan uu dowlada u soo qabtay, kuwa ceelasha biyaha jooga ama banaan baxeen ama ha carareen. Waa in Maxamed Dheere xaal la siiyo ka dibna booskiisa lagu soo celiyo, intay doorashooyin kale ay ka dhacaayaan.

shanta @ 7/31/2008 6:47 AM EST  My advice, listen the counsel provided to you by Nomadic. If you are sincere about your commitment to Islam, then work in pacifying this nation so may Allah reward you in your endeavors of establishing a state for the Almighty?

shanta @ 7/31/2008 6:40 AM EST  Dr.Ali The fact Dahir comes from a religious family is irrelevant, compared to his actions in the early days. He did drift from the family affairs and enrolled in the military for rebellious reasons. In order to denounce his upbringing, he distanced himself from the very sacred teachings and joined an organization on which religion had no place within the rank/file. Religious people do not enroll on such organization that teaches on how to eliminate people-contradicts the very believe of the holy teachings; which is abundantly clear on the subject of saving souls. Those were the lost days of Dahir, until the events of Hargeisa in 1978 that pushed him into depression and caused him to rediscover his roots. Dr, Ali, Dahir was a communist and collectively denying it at the moment when the truth remains within an era, is being irresponsible not to disclose the past of a man who wants to lead this nation under Islam. You know that Allah demands that from you?  Perhaps you ought to read the qualification demands of a leader section rather the militant sections regarding about wars fought 1000 years ago?

nomadic1 @ 7/31/2008 6:04 AM EST  Lamadage Brother, everybody including the TFG itself knows that there is no such goverment. They are under the thumbs of the Ethiopian military to the extent that the Ethiopian solder gives orders to the TFG Ministers. However, dont you think it is better for our people if we let them get on with their work for the reminder of their term. After that, we can hold elections, if people dont want them, they will can elect other people and get rid of them, if people want them and do elect them, then why not let them run the show and torment them.