Garowe Online (Garowe)
4 May 2008
Legislators in Somalia have been asked to register their weapons with the transitional federal government following a police official's accusations that lawmakers are involved in criminal activities, local sources said.
Sheikh Adan "Madobe" Mohamed, the parliament Speaker, told lawmakers in the southwestern city of Baidoa that the government wants to know the number of weapons and guards each lawmaker keeps around for personal security.
The plan to register lawmakers' weapons and guards comes from the office of Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein, government sources tell Garowe Online.
The Prime Minister has backed efforts to disarm some of the government's most powerful officials, including Mogadishu Mayor Mohamed Dheere and national police Chief Abdi Qeybdiid.
Adan Bariyow, the deputy police commander in Baidoa, had previously alleged that troublemakers responsible for the violence in the city have "secret ties" to some of Somalia's parliamentarians.
His allegation reportedly angered Deputy Parliament Speaker Mohamed Omar Dalha, who termed Mr. Bariyow's accusations "unnecessary."
Meanwhile, MP Ahmed "Tow" Mohamed told reporters on Sunday that he has resigned from his post after the parliament failed to address major national issues.
MP Tow said the federal parliament has not played the key role of holding the transitional government to account on key issues, a development he suggested that allowed administration officials to abuse the country's finances and the ongoing reconciliation process.
Somalia's interim federal parliament has been based in Baidoa since early 2006 because the national capital Mogadishu remains a hotbed for insurgent attacks.
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