Somalia top leaders reach agreement on solving differences

Somali President Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed and his Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein have finally reached an agreement on solving their differences in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, easing the tension that had jeopardized the stability of the interim Somali government, local media reported on Sunday.

The two senior leaders have been in the Ethiopian capital since last week for talks under the mediation of Ethiopian authorities after a dispute between them escalated further following the sacking of the major of Mogadishu, Mohamed Omar Habeeb, a close ally of the president last month.

Quoting Somali government sources, Garowe Online, the website of a local radio, said the two leaders reached a five-point agreement, adding that "the tenets of the reported agreement have not been fully disclosed yet."

Other local media reports, also quoting Somali government sources close to the Addis Ababa talks, said the president and the prime minister reached "common understanding" regarding their differences over wide range of issues including national reconciliation.

A signing ceremony will reportedly be held later Sunday in Addis Ababa with a strong presence from the international community and the Ethiopian government.

It is not yet clear if Habeeb, major of Mogadishu whose sacking fueled much of the tension between the two leaders, and the 10 ministers who resigned from the government, would retain their posts.

Some reports said that the 15-member cabinet will be expanded to 25 to accommodate others in the government.

The Somali interim government and an opposition faction signed a peace deal in Djibouti in June this year.

12:12 PM 8/24/2008