Somali MPs mull Mogadishu return

Aideed's militia have controlled the palace for 14 years

A delegation from Somalia's exiled parliament has visited the presidential palace for the first time, in what is seen as a highly symbolic move.

Villa Somalia has been controlled by warlord Hussein Aideed, now deputy prime minister, and his late father for the last 14 years.

The MPs are assessing the feasibility of moving the government to the divided and ruined capital, Mogadishu.

Some argue the city is too dangerous and want to switch the capital.

Before going to the presidential palace, gunfire was heard when the MPs visited Mogadishu's port area.

Somalia has been without an effective government since the overthrow of President Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

Since then rival warlords have battled for control of the country and Somalia has been divided into a patchwork of fiefdoms.

Battle for the capital

Most government buildings in Mogadishu are either in ruins or being used as refugee camps - and it has no civil service or treasury.

Facts and figures about life in Somalia

At-a-glance

According to the BBC's Hassan Barise, Mogadishu's warlords want to persuade the delegation that the capital is secure to ward off attempts to move the new government elsewhere.

But a significant number of the new administration are reluctant to make Mogadishu the seat of government, favouring other, safer towns such as Baidoa in the south, until security is re-established in the capital.

Divisions about the government's relocation seem to go to the very top, our correspondent says.

President Abdullahi Yusuf, who comes from northern Somalia, never refers to Mogadishu when talking about the move - seen by some as a significant omission.

But Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi, from the capital, insists he is moving his government to Mogadishu as soon as possible.

Peacekeeper dispute

Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) has authorised the deployment of troops to Somalia from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda to help the government establish itself.

Although Kenya says it will only send logistics help and observers - not soldiers.

The size of the force was not specified, but Mr Yusuf requested between 15,000 to 20,000 troops last year.

Uganda has been named to lead the force.

But our correspondent says key warlords, all members of the new government, oppose this move - especially troops from Ethiopia, once Somalia's arch-rival.

Mr Yusuf, their former rival, is seen as an ally of Ethiopia, whilst Baidoa is also near Ethiopia's border.

The deployment of troops and a move to Baidoa would, the warlords feel, shift the balance of power in the new government towards the president.