FOUR MORE MINISTERS RESIGNED FROM SOMALIA'S WESTERN-BACKED GOVERNMENT ON TUESDAY, IN A MOVE THAT MAY ULTIMATELY CLEAR THE WAY FOR RIVAL ISLAMISTS TO TAKE MINISTERIAL POSTS, REUTERS REPORTED. MINISTER OF MINERALS AND WATER MOHAMUD SALAD NUR AND THREE OTHER ASSISTANT MINISTERS ANNOUNCED THEIR RESIGNATION LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER 18 SENIOR OFFICIALS ALSO QUIT, DEALING A BLOW TO THE FRAGILE INTERIM GOVERNMENT. "THIS IS OUR DECISION BECAUSE THIS CABINET HAS FAILED THE REASON FOR WHICH IT WAS ESTABLISHED. IT HAS FAILED TO RECONCILE THE SOMALI PEOPLE," SAID SAYEED HASSAN SHIRE, AN ASSISTANT MINISTER WHO RESIGNED. THE CABINET ORIGINALLY COMPRISED 42 MINISTERS, EIGHT OF WHOM HAVE QUIT IN THE PAST WEEK. BUT GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ABDIRAHMAN DINARI SAID THE POSTS WOULD NOT STAY VACANT FOR LONG. "THEIR POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED IMMEDIATELY, MAYBE WITHIN A WEEK'S TIME," DINARI SAID.
