By Nour Geidi
MOGADISHU
The Somali prime minister said Tuesday that the political differences plaguing his country could only be resolved through negotiations.
"This kind of conflict is derailing the government's efforts to hold democratic elections in 2016 and will crush the aspirations of the Somali people," Somali Premier Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said in a statement.
Last month, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud fell out with Ahmed over a cabinet reshuffle, in which two ministers – known for being close to the president – were demoted to less prestigious portfolios.
Mohamoud deemed the reshuffle "unconstitutional" and urged cabinet ministers not to comply with the move.
"The people of Somalia must be respected. They can no longer stand the current conflicts, which will open the door for terrorism," the president said in a statement, referring to the Al-Shabaab militant group.
The Somali parliament on Tuesday postponed a session convened to discuss a motion to withdraw confidence from the prime minister.
The session was delayed after opposition MPs chanted slogans against the notion of withdrawing confidence from Ahmed, prompting the parliament speaker to postpone the session indefinitely, according to Anadolu Agency reporters.
Early this week, 165 MPs drafted a bill in the 275-member assembly withdrawing confidence from the premier.
Earlier this month, both the EU and U.N. called on the president and prime minister to end their political differences.
Somalia has remained in the grip of on-again, off-again violence since the outbreak of civil war in 1991.
Earlier this year, the country appeared to inch closer to stability after government troops and African Union forces drove the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group from most of its strongholds.
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