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AU meets for Somalia crisis talks AU meets for Somalia crisis talks
(about 3 hours later)
Members of the African Union's peace and security council are holding urgent talks on the crisis in Somalia.Members of the African Union's peace and security council are holding urgent talks on the crisis in Somalia.
The meeting of foreign ministers, in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, is to focus on finding a way to strengthen the peacekeeping force in Somalia.The meeting of foreign ministers, in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, is to focus on finding a way to strengthen the peacekeeping force in Somalia.
An Ethiopian force of more than 3,000 troops has been backing the interim government, but is about to withdraw.An Ethiopian force of more than 3,000 troops has been backing the interim government, but is about to withdraw.
An earlier meeting of the East African regional group, Igad, decided to impose sanctions on the Somalian president. An earlier meeting of the East African regional group, Igad, decided to impose sanctions on the Somali president.
The transitional government is in disarray, says the BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa, after President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed attempted to sack Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein - a move the prime minister and parliament rejected.The transitional government is in disarray, says the BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa, after President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed attempted to sack Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein - a move the prime minister and parliament rejected.
Peacekeepers promisedPeacekeepers promised
Torn by internal conflict, Somalia has been without an effective central government for more than 15 years.Torn by internal conflict, Somalia has been without an effective central government for more than 15 years.
Islamist insurgents are on the upsurge and control most of the country. SOMALIA'S WOES 3m need food aid - a third of the population1m displacedGovernment only controls BaidoaIslamist groups control much of the countryNo effective government since 1991Piracy on the riseIslamist insurgents are on the upsurge and control most of the country. SOMALIA'S WOES 3m need food aid - a third of the population1m displacedGovernment only controls BaidoaIslamist groups control much of the countryNo effective government since 1991Piracy on the rise
The Ethiopian troops, a weak AU force and troops loyal to the interim Somali government are limited to parts of Mogadishu and the central town of Baidoa, where parliament is based.The Ethiopian troops, a weak AU force and troops loyal to the interim Somali government are limited to parts of Mogadishu and the central town of Baidoa, where parliament is based.
The AU ministers now have the task of trying to beef up the AU mission in Somalia, which will no longer have the comfort of knowing it can call for Ethiopian back-up when needed, says our correspondent.The AU ministers now have the task of trying to beef up the AU mission in Somalia, which will no longer have the comfort of knowing it can call for Ethiopian back-up when needed, says our correspondent.
At the Igad meeting on Sunday, African Union commission head Jean Ping said Nigeria was ready to send a battalion of about 850 troops.At the Igad meeting on Sunday, African Union commission head Jean Ping said Nigeria was ready to send a battalion of about 850 troops.
Burundi and Uganda would each send an additional battalion, he said.Burundi and Uganda would each send an additional battalion, he said.
'Paralysed government''Paralysed government'
The foreign ministers of the six-member Inter-governmental Authority on Development (Igad) came out in support of Somalian Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein in the political conflict with President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. The foreign ministers of the six-member Inter-governmental Authority on Development (Igad) came out in support of Prime Minister Nur in the political conflict with President Yusuf.
After their meeting, the group said: "[Igad] regrets the attempts by President Abdullahi Yusuf to unconstitutionally appoint a new prime minister that Igad does not recognise, and decides to impose sanctions on him and his associates immediately." After their meeting, the group said: "[Igad] regrets the attempts by President Yusuf to unconstitutionally appoint a new prime minister that Igad does not recognise, and decides to impose sanctions on him and his associates immediately."
Mr Abdullahi had said he sacked the prime minister a week ago because the government had been "paralysed by corruption, inefficiency and treason" and failed to bring peace. Mr Yusuf had said he sacked the prime minister a week ago because the government had been "paralysed by corruption, inefficiency and treason" and failed to bring peace.
However, Somalia's parliament declared the sacking illegal and passed a vote of confidence in Mr Nur by a huge majority.However, Somalia's parliament declared the sacking illegal and passed a vote of confidence in Mr Nur by a huge majority.