Rift between Somali president, prime minister, further threatens fight against Islamist rebels

Rift between Somali president, PM, deepens turmoil

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The prime minister of Somalia is publicly disputing the president’s right to dissolve the U.N.-backed government, further deepening the political turmoil that prevents the administration from effectively fighting al-Qaida linked Islamist insurgents.

Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke insisted he is still the prime minister at a press conference Tuesday despite President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed’s announcement a day earlier that he was dissolving the Cabinet.

The Somali constitution says the president may appoint the prime minister but cannot fire him without parliament’s approval.

Somalia has been a wracked by civil war for nearly 20 years. The current administration is the 15th attempt to build a government in 19 years.