I Am in Excellent Health, Says President

[*jr]

AllAfrica.com
5 December 2007
Posted to the web 6 December 2007

The president of Somalia's transitional federal government says he is in "excellent health" following widespread rumors that he has been admitted to a Kenyan hospital with a serious illness.

President Abdullahi Yusuf was taken to Nairobi Hospital two days ago, with conflicting reports regarding his condition.

"I am leaving here as soon as possible," President Yusuf told Voice of America's Somali Service, answering a question about when he would leave the hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

He said he is scheduled to visit London as part of a once-a-year routine visit to his doctor, to check up on his eleven-year-old liver transplant among other health concerns.

President Yusuf said his recently appointed Prime Minister, Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein, appointed a worthy Cabinet, despite resignations and division within parliament.

"I think the Prime Minister tried really hard to build a government than can work...that can finish the job during the transitional period," Yusuf said during the VOA interview.

He dismissed negotiations with the opposition until they "put down their weapons."

"They [opposition] must accept peace and respect the people's safety and security," the Somali president said, referring to guerrilla fighters leading the insurgency against the government and its Ethiopian military allies.

President Yusuf dismissed media reports that he ordered a halt to United Nations aid efforts in Lower Shabelle region.

"I am surprised," Yusuf said, after chuckling briefly at the question. "How can I issue that order when I was not there [in Somalia]?"

He said his administration "asked them [UN] to inform the government about their operations."

Yusuf's interim government is the 14th attempt to restore central authority to Somalia after years of factional violence and displacement.

Islamist and allied clan guerrillas have waged war on the government since January, when Islamic Courts rulers were routed out of Mogadishu by pro-Yusuf Ethiopian troops.


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