Premier denies reports of TNG split

The prime minister of the Transitional National Government (TNG) of Somalia, Hasan Abshir Farah, has admitted there are "minor differences" between himself and the TNG president, but stressed this did not amount to a split within the interim administration.

The differences concerned "the prime minister's wish to dismiss certain ministers, which the president has refused to agree to", a TNG source told IRIN.

The ministers in question are reported to be Finance Minister Husayn Mahmud Shaykh Husayn, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdikarim Ahmad Ali and Education Minister Hasan Muhammad Jumbur. All three are seen as loyal supporters of President Abdiqassim Salad Hassan.

"These are differences of opinion on minor issues which we are now in the process of resolving," Abshir told IRIN on Tuesday. "This is not something that will lead to a split within the TNG at this stage. We are engaged in consultations and will resolve the matter soon."

Meanwhile, the Transitional National Assembly (TNA) on Monday reconvened its fifth session with 165 of its members present, after an eight-month recess, a TNA source told IRIN.

The TNA had been unable to meet during this period because most of its members were in Kenya attending ongoing peace talks, and those remaining were insufficient to form a quorum. "The assembly will discuss a number of pressing issues, including the current peace talks in Kenya and the TNG's role therein," the source said.