Somali leaders head for Ethiopia to hammer out differences

MOGADISHU, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein Friday left for Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, for a possible mediation between the leaders by Ethiopian authorities, local media reported.

Differences between the two leaders have emerged following the sacking of Mogadishu mayor Mohamed Omar Habeeb, a close ally of the president, by Hussein late last month.

The Ethiopian government, a close ally of the Somali Transitional Government, has sent military forces to Somalia in late 2006 to help Somali government forces topple an Islamist administration in south and central Somalia, which was deemed a threat to the national security of Ethiopia and a challenge to the authority of the Somali transitional government.

Ethiopian authorities wield a considerable influence on Somali government leaders and has previously intervened in disputes between President Yusuf and former Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi after the two fall out last year leading to the resignation of Gedi. Hussein was appointed by President Ahmed to replace the former Premier.