Somali PM Moves to Quell Political Storm

Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein has replaced 10 ministers who resigned earlier this week in an attempt to stem a political crisis in the country. Hussein announced the replacements at a news conference, saying the government was working well despite the resignations and alleging that the ministers had hoped to destabilize the country by resigning. The 10 ministers, who are all allies of Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf, resigned on August 2 calling for Hussein’s ouster. This fuelled suspicion that their resignation was part of a deepening rift between President Yusuf and his Prime Minister. [PE]