TASEK PAUH blogspot

Mogadishu, 13 Jan.07 (Sh.M.Network) - The Somali transitional parliament has today approved three months of a martial law to be imposed on the war-torn country in their last session in Baidoa, 245 km (153 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu on Saturday.

Shabelle reporter Abdiaziz Sheik in Baidoa said at least 156 parliamentarians have arrived to the session on Saturday. The parliament began debating last Thursday over the martial law and how it would affect the Somali people.

Abdulahi Sheik Ismail, the minister of the federal constitution, who read to members of the parliament about the agendas, which should be supported.

154 MPs have endorsed the martial law while 2 kept silent. The minister then announced the law was affective and would be implemented.

There were some articles altered after long debate by the MPs.

On Thursday a committee in which the prime Minster and the defense minister included was appointed to observe the side affects of the state of emergency law; the MPs have objected today that the committee should be given the authority to approve or disapprove decisions made by the parliament members.

They said the president had the upper power for the last decision.

Martial law, which is a military rule or authority imposed on a civilian population when the civil authorities cannot maintain law and order, as in a time of war or during an emergency, it is not yet clear how the Somali democratic federal government would enforce it.

Many Somalis believe that the government is not in a firm control of the country.

The decision of martial law came despite a widespread insecurity in Somalia where Ethiopian and government soldiers are rarely visible on the streets of the volatile city of Mogadishu.

President Abdulahi Yusuf, who arrived Mogadishu early last week, has had various meetings with his predecessors, tribal elders, foresighted people, and warlords over how peace and security would be restored to the capital Mogadishu.

The news comes as Somalia’s defense Minster Col. Barre Hirale revealed that the Ethiopian and government forces have seized the defeated Islamists’ last stronghold of Raskamboni, a Somali island along the Kenyan border.

Labels: Berita, Luar Negeri, Somalia