 Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein |
Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein has announced his bid to run for the presidency seat, which has remained vacant since last month.
Speaking at a news conference in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, Nur Hussein stated that he made the decision after consulting with Somali elites, Press TV's correspondent in Somalia reported.
"I served the country as premier and I would like to be elected president and promote peace and harmony. Somalia needs more reconciliation efforts to have a stable government," the interim Somali prime minister told reporters.
Former Somali president Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed relinquished power last month after getting into a power struggle with Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and failed to sack him.
The Somali Parliament is scheduled to convene on January 26 in a bid to elect new leaders including a house speaker, two deputy speakers as well as a new president.
The Somali Parliament is scheduled to convene on January 26 in a bid to elect new leaders including a house speaker, two deputy speakers as well as a new president.
 Ethiopian troops leaving Mogadishu |
In a separate development in Somalia, Ethiopian troops have left Mogadishu and the Banaadir region and are heading toward the Bay and Bakool regions.
Ethiopia agreed to pull out of the country last October as part of a UN-backed peace deal between the fragile transitional government and Alliance for the Deliberation of Somalia (ARS) opposition. Ethiopia had entered Somalia to remove the Union of Islamic Courts from power.
 Insurgents control much of Mogadishu now. |
At least 10 armed men have lost their lives in fierce fighting that broke out between members of Al-Shabaab and other fighters in the Lower Shabelle region. The clash occurred as part of violence prompted by the two sides seeking to have more positions under their sway following the Ethiopian pullout.
Since 1991, Somalia has not had a functioning national government and has been plagued by fighting and humanitarian suffering.
In recent years, ensuing instability, coupled with drought, high food prices as well as the collapse of the local currency have significantly worsened the dire humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa state.
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