Cabinet snubs Somalia's capital

Somalia's exiled cabinet has voted to return to Somalia but not to the capital, Mogadishu, which the prime minister says is too dangerous.

The ministers will instead go to the central towns of Baidoa and Jowhar until security improves in the capital.

However, 10 ministers, including key Mogadishu warlords, walked out of the meeting, before the vote was taken.

Somalia has not had a functioning national government for 14 years and is divided between rival warlords.

Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi said the cabinet would leave Kenya "soon" but the international community would have to fund the relocation.

The vote was taken to sidestep a row over whether or not the government needed peacekeepers before setting up in Mogadishu, which had threatened to bring down the government.

Most dangerous

President Abdullahi Yusuf wants foreign troops, including from Ethiopia, but their involvement is controversial after previous wars between the two countries.

If the government does not go to Mogadishu, it might not need any peacekeepers.

However, Mr Yusuf was not at Monday's cabinet meeting, as he has travelled to the Arab League summit in Algeria.

Mr Yusuf was elected last year after two years of talks in Kenya.

Mr Ghedi said the government would open a security office in Mogadishu, which he said was the most dangerous part of Somalia.

The decision was backed by 64 of the 74-member cabinet.

Warlord arrested

Among those who walked out were Osman Ali Atto, Musa Sudi Yalahow, Omar Finish and Mohammed Qanyare Afrah.

Between them, these men control most of Mogadishu and have been in the forefront of opposition to the use of foreign peacekeepers.

Despite being in the government, their militiamen have not started to disarm.

They said the cabinet did not have the right to change Somalia's capital.

Last week, Mr Yalahow was one of three Somali MPs arrested after a brawl erupted in parliament during a debate on whether to send foreign troops to Somalia.

East African leaders have offered to send some 6,800 troops from Uganda and Sudan.

But some Somalia leaders fear that Ethiopians could eventually join them.