Garowe Online (Garowe)
11 May 2008
Ethiopian troops backing Somalia's interim government have disarmed a former warlord in the central regions, reliable sources tell Garowe Online.
Mr. Yusuf Daboged, a warlord who held the post of Hiran governor until April, has been disarmed by the Ethiopian army and all his weapons confiscated, according to security sources familiar with the story.
It is unclear why Mr. Daboged's weapons were taken, but the development comes after the ex-warlord told local media that he is the "legitimate" governor of Hiran region.
Last month, Somali Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein issued a decree officially relieving Mr. Daboged of duty and replacing him with Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed.
Unconfirmed reports said Mr. Mohamed, the new governor of Hiran, is on his way to the region. Last week, Ethiopian troops reentered the Hiran capital city of Beletwein and are reportedly standing guard at strategic locations, including government buildings and the local airport.
Prime Minister Nur Adde has also ordered Mogadishu Mayor Mohamed Dheere, national police chief Abdi Qeybdiid and intelligence boss Mohamed Darwish to surrender their weapons over to the Somali government.
However, none of these powerful government officials have given up their weaponry to date.
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