Somali govt split over jailing, sacking

MOGADISHU – A spat over corruption allegations has sparked tension within Somalia’s government, an administration already struggling to overcome clan rivalries, assert control and put down an insurgency.

In the latest attack in the Somali capital, more than 50 heavily armed insurgents fired rocket propelled grenades at a government base late on Sunday, killing three soldiers and briefly taking over the base, witnesses said. Two civilians who were caught in the crossfire died in a fierce gunbattle that followed the attack, according to two witnesses, Ali Gurey and Hawa Sheikh Muqtar.On Friday, Attorney General Abdullahi Dahir Barre ordered the arrest of Chief Justice Yusuf Ali Harun, accusing him of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars meant to help rebuild Somalia’s judiciary.Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi then ordered the sacking of Barre, who is viewed as an ally of President Abdualli Yusuf.Relations between Gedi and Yusuf have been tense.But Barre remained defiant on Monday, saying he was still attorney general.”The prime minister cannot fire me.His order is null and void,” Barre told The Associated Press by phone.”Only the president can sack me.Yes, I’m the one who arrested Harun because he stole US$800.00.”Somalia has not had a functioning judiciary for 16 years because it descended into anarchy when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 and then turned on one another.Most Somalis resolve their disputes using a clan elder system based on centuries-old traditions.-Nampa-APTwo civilians who were caught in the crossfire died in a fierce gunbattle that followed the attack, according to two witnesses, Ali Gurey and Hawa Sheikh Muqtar.On Friday, Attorney General Abdullahi Dahir Barre ordered the arrest of Chief Justice Yusuf Ali Harun, accusing him of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars meant to help rebuild Somalia’s judiciary.Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi then ordered the sacking of Barre, who is viewed as an ally of President Abdualli Yusuf.Relations between Gedi and Yusuf have been tense.But Barre remained defiant on Monday, saying he was still attorney general.”The prime minister cannot fire me.His order is null and void,” Barre told The Associated Press by phone.”Only the president can sack me.Yes, I’m the one who arrested Harun because he stole US$800.00.”Somalia has not had a functioning judiciary for 16 years because it descended into anarchy when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 and then turned on one another.Most Somalis resolve their disputes using a clan elder system based on centuries-old traditions.-Nampa-AP