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Somalia's president quits office Somalia's president quits office
(about 2 hours later)
Somalia's President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed has told parliament he is resigning. Somalia's President Abdullahi Yusuf has told parliament he is resigning - a move which adds to the chaos in the country as Ethiopian troops withdraw.
The news comes a few days after the resignation of the man he had recently appointed as prime minister. Mr Yusuf's resignation follows a power struggle with Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, who parliament backed after Mr Yusuf tried to sack him.
Ex-Prime Minister Mohamed Mahamud Guled quit last week saying his appointment was destabilising the government. Ethiopian soldiers, who support the government, are due to pull out this week, raising fears of a power vacuum.
Mr Yusuf, elected four years ago, said he had failed to bring peace. The parliament speaker would take over leadership responsibilities. Various Islamist and nationalist groups control most of southern Somalia.
Last week, Mohamed Mahamud Guled, who Mr Yusuf wanted to install as prime minister, resigned saying his appointment was destabilising the government.
The parliament speaker is now supposed to take over leadership responsibilities.
Mr Yusuf was chosen by MPs four years ago at the end of a long process supposed to bring peace to Somalia, which has not had an effective national government since 1991.
But government forces only control parts of the capital, Mogadishu and the town of Baidoa.
'Failed in duty''Failed in duty'
He addressed parliamentarians in Baidoa, saying: "As I promised when you elected me on October 14, 2004, I would stand down if I failed to fulfil my duty, I have decided to return the responsibility you gave me." Mr Yusuf told MPs in Baidoa: "As I promised when you elected me on October 14, 2004, I would stand down if I failed to fulfil my duty, I have decided to return the responsibility you gave me."
In his speech, broadcast on national radio, he said: "When I took power I pledged three things.In his speech, broadcast on national radio, he said: "When I took power I pledged three things.
"If I was unable to fulfil my duty I will resign. Second, I said I will do everything in my power to make government work across the country. That did not happen either."If I was unable to fulfil my duty I will resign. Second, I said I will do everything in my power to make government work across the country. That did not happen either.
"Third, I asked the leaders to co-operate with me for the common good of the people. That did not happen," he said, according to Associated Press news agency."Third, I asked the leaders to co-operate with me for the common good of the people. That did not happen," he said, according to Associated Press news agency.
Mr Yusuf had faced criticism for appointing Mr Guled in defiance of Somali MPs, who said the dismissal of his predecessor, Nur Hassan Hussein, two weeks previously, had been illegal. Mr Yusuf had faced criticism for appointing Mr Guled in defiance of Somali MPs, who overwhelmingly rejected the dismissal of his predecessor.
The president had clashed in recent months with Mr Nur over attempts to negotiate a peace deal with the Islamist-led armed opposition.The president had clashed in recent months with Mr Nur over attempts to negotiate a peace deal with the Islamist-led armed opposition.
Mohamed Mahamud Guled said he had chosen to resign "so that I am not seen as a stumbling block to the peace process which is going well now". Mr Guled said he had chosen to resign "so that I am not seen as a stumbling block to the peace process which is going well now".
Somalia has been without an effective central government since President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. The regional grouping, Igad, which brokered the talks leading to Mr Yusuf's election, this month imposed sanctions on him, calling him an obstacle to peace.