Somali president quits as fighting rages between rival Islamists

[Adsos Letter]

Source: AFP/YahooNews

BAIDOA, Somalia (AFP) - - Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed quit Monday, plunging the war-torn country deeper into chaos as hardline Islamist fighters recaptured two central towns.

Former warlord Yusuf's exit marks a new nadir for a lawless land where thousands have died in fighting over the last two years, millions have been left homeless or in dire need of aid and a security black hole has created a global problem with piracy off its shores.

The 74-year-old former warlord stepped down following a bitter power struggle, two weeks after his attempt to sack and replace the prime minister in defiance of lawmakers failed, and days from a planned Ethiopian troop pullout.

Ethiopia sent in troops in late 2006 in a bid to rescue the internationally-backed transitional government and prevent the emergence of an Islamic republic on its doorstep, but has said it will withdraw its forces by January 5 at the very latest.

On Monday, Islamist Shebab fighters wrested back two towns taken over the weekend by the Ahlu Sunna Wal-jama'ah religious group which vowed jihad against the Shebab on Sunday, blaming them for Somalia's relentless bloodshed.


Read more: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20081230/twl-somalia-unrest-politics-4bdc673.html

[Sultana]

1. Somalia looks to be a lost cause.

It will definitely became an Islamist republic and we know how those turn out.

[David__77]

2. The left has failed, so the people support the Islamists.

They just will not support those would make the country a vassal. The left has to get its act together.