Somali Battle Rages Over Choice of Capital

Rival factions in Somalia yesterday battled for control of the southwestern city of Baidoa, where President Abdullahi Yusuf plans to establish a temporary capital.

The heavy fighting, which involved truck-mounted anti-aircraft missiles, mortars and heavy machine guns, is blamed for the deaths of 19 people and injuries to 28. The fighting began at about 3.45am, when shooting broke out between militia loyal to rival Somali MPs. At the centre of the dispute is the question of where the capital should be located.

One faction is led by Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade, an MP who has held control of Baidoa for several months.

He is against President Yusuf's plan to move the interim capital to Baidoa. Mr Habsade dismissed Somali media reports that the attackers had taken control of up to half of Baidoa. He accused justice minister Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe and agriculture minister Hassan Mohamed Nuur Shatigudud of orchestrating the assault to wrest control of Baidoa for President Yusuf, whose administration seeks to disarm all militias and restore effective government for the first time in 14 years.

The dispute over where to install Mr Yusuf's divided government has deepened power struggles in his administration.

The location of the government, based in Kenya since it was formed at peace talks there last year, is a key security issue for Somalia's neighbours in the Horn of Africa, long buffeted by the country's political turmoil.

Mr Yusuf argued that Mogadishu is too violent and that Baidoa and another city, Jowhar, would be safer. Mr Yusuf's opponents maintain that Baidoa and Jowhar are too close to Ethiopia to allow an independent government.