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Citing 'Treason,' Somali Prez Fires His PM

Gov't near collapse, insurgents vow never to talk to leadership

By the Associated Press

Posted Dec 14, 2008 1:48 PM CST

(AP) – Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf fired his prime minister today and accused him of paralyzing the government with "corruption, inefficiency, and treason." Hours later, as the government veered toward collapse, Islamic insurgents held a brazen news conference in the capital and vowed never to negotiate with the leadership.

"We will never talk to the government and will never accept any political power sharing. Our aim is only to see Islamic law running this country," said a spokesman for the al-Shabab insurgent group, the most powerful of the militant organizations that control most of the country. The prime minister, Nur Hassan Hussein, promised to challenge his dismissal.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (3)]

Armed fighters from the al-Shabab group prepare to travel on the back of pickup trucks outside Mogadishu in Somalia on Monday Dec. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somalia's president fired Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, pictured, alleging he was corrupt. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

Somalia's president, Abdullahi Yusuf, controls very little of the country, which is mostly dominated by insurgents. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi))

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The government has been paralyzed by corruption, inefficiency and treason. - Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf

The president was speaking in his usual personal capacity, which is always contrary to the country's existing rules and regulations. - Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein

Somalia is a basket case. It is a classic area where you have got ungoverned space, no effective state apparatus and criminality and potential terrorism. - British Defense Secretary John Hutton

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Citing 'Treason,' Somali Prez Fires His PM