MPs introduce a motion of no confidence in government

Members of Somalia's Transitional National Assembly (TNA) have tabled a motion of no confidence in the Transitional National Government (TNG), an MP told IRIN. MP Abdirahman Ibrahim Ali Shirar said that the motion was brought before the TNA by 17 members. "You only need 10 members to bring a motion before the assembly," he said. TNA Deputy Speaker Muhammad Abdi Yusuf confirmed to IRIN on Thursday that such a motion had been tabled and that it had been "read to members today". The motion accuses the government, among other things, of "dereliction of duty, and corruption", he said. Shirar said the majority of MPs supported the motion and was confident of its passage. "We need a simple majority to bring down this government, and we have more than that," he told IRIN. Yusuf refused to speculate on whether the motion had the support of the majority of MPs, but said that "debate on the motion will begin on Saturday". If the motion of no confidence succeeds, the prime minister and his cabinet will have to resign, and the president will have to appoint a new prime minister, who will form a new government, a Somali source told IRIN.