KENYA: Somali PM ready to resign for coalition success

Record ID: 361525

  • Title: KENYA: Somali PM ready to resign for coalition success
  • Date: 1st November 2008
  • Summary: (BN09) NAIROBI, KENYA (OCTOBER 31, 2008) (REUTERS) SOMALI PRIME MINISTER, NUR HASSAN HUSSEIN ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOMALI PRIME MINISTER, NUR HASSAN HUSSEIN, SAYING: "For me, the position of prime minister has no, I mean important value when the solution of the Somalia is being addressed. So, at that time, there is
  • Embargoed: 16th November 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAACAQHEFD365QTISID3PXI5MQC
  • Story Text: Somalia's prime minister says he is willing to step down should a coalition government made up of the opposition and members of the government, agreed on at recent regional talks, succeed.
    Somalia's prime minister said on Friday (October 31) he would be willing to step down should a coalition government made up of the opposition and members of the government, agreed on at recent regional talks, succeed.
    The four-year-old administration is under pressure to end the chaos and share some power with moderate opposition figures.
    Nur Hassan Hussein told journalists in Kenya's capital Nairobi on Friday (October 31) that if the opposition were to demand the prime minister position, he would willingly step down if it would help end the crisis in the horn of Africa country.

    "There is no question, there is no worry, I will be ready to step down for the interest of the country," Hussein said.
    Many a peace process has come and gone since warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 and ushered in the modern era of chaos and anarchy in Somalia.
    The chaos has fuelled piracy in the busy Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean sealanes off Somalia. Dozens of ships have been seized this year, eight are still being held. Insurance costs are soaring, some shippers are considering using the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Suez Canal, and various countries are sending naval patrols to the area.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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