Somali president arrives in Mogadishu – source

MOGADISHU – Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf entered the capital Mogadishu yesterday for the first time since taking office in late 2004, a government source said.

If confirmed, Yusuf’s arrival would cap a remarkable turn-around in the Somali capital, where Islamists ruled since June before being chased out just before the New Year by Ethiopian troops backing the interim government. “The president has arrived in Mogadishu.He is now resting at Nasa Hablod hotel.We are now preparing his house in Villa Somalia, where he will be staying,” a government source who declined to be named, told Reuters.Villa Somalia is the former presidential palace of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, whose 1991 ouster as Somalia’s last national president in 1991 triggered more than 15 years of anarchy.Information Minister Ali Ahmed Jama “Jangali” declined to confirm the arrival.Witnesses in the Kilometre Four area, a main entry point to Mogadishu, said they saw a convoy of eight SUVs accompanied by 15 technicals – pick-up trucks with heavy guns – five troop transport trucks and hundreds of soldiers.Nampa-Reuters”The president has arrived in Mogadishu.He is now resting at Nasa Hablod hotel.We are now preparing his house in Villa Somalia, where he will be staying,” a government source who declined to be named, told Reuters.Villa Somalia is the former presidential palace of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, whose 1991 ouster as Somalia’s last national president in 1991 triggered more than 15 years of anarchy.Information Minister Ali Ahmed Jama “Jangali” declined to confirm the arrival.Witnesses in the Kilometre Four area, a main entry point to Mogadishu, said they saw a convoy of eight SUVs accompanied by 15 technicals – pick-up trucks with heavy guns – five troop transport trucks and hundreds of soldiers.Nampa-Reuters