UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The transitional government in Somalia is called on to settle its differences in the interest of peace, a U.N. statement read.
Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke in a Tuesday statement said he was resigning his position as prime minister of Somalia because of political differences and instability in the beleaguered country.
The transitional government, whose mandate expires in August, has struggled in the face of an insurgency led by al-Qaida affiliates in al-Shabaab. The militant group declared war on African Union peacekeepers in Somalia and waged several high-profile attacks that left several lawmakers dead.
Somali President Sharif Ahmed met with AU delegates at U.N. headquarters on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly to discuss the political course of his country, which hasn't had a functioning government since 1991.
A statement that followed the meeting called on additional support for the AU peacekeeping force and reminded the transitional government of its obligations in the war-torn country.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his statement addressing the joint meeting said there was modest progress in Mogadishu, but warned the political impasse was undermining developments.
"Above all, the violence must stop," the secretary-general warned in his statement. "The leaders of the Transitional Federal Institutions must overcome their internal differences, strengthen the security forces and complete the transitional tasks."
