BAIDOA, Somalia Oct 11, 2007 - Political divisions stirred by disagreement between Somalia's interim president and prime minister have ripped through the weak transitional authority trying to impose central rule after 17 years of disorder.

Both President Abdillahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi were in the town of Baidoa, 250km northwest of Mogadishu, where many lawmakers have proposed a vote of confidence motion against Gedi's government.

Some 22 Cabinet ministers out of a total of 31 issued a letter Thursday saying Gedi's term ends on October 12. The ministers threatened to resign if Gedi refused to appear in front of parliament and face the confidence vote.

But Gedi supporters within the Cabinet held a rival meeting in Baidoa saying the Prime Minister has a year and half left in office.

The political division has also affected Ethiopian troops in Somalia.

An Ethiopian army base was attacked by a suicide bomber   in Baidoa, killing at least 3 soldiers.

Sources in Baidoa said Ethiopian generals postponed their plans to disarm Yusuf and Gedi's security forces for fear of an armed clash.

Today's parliament session was postponed with Speaker Adan "Madobe" Mohamed telling reporters the move was due to Eid celebration after the conclusion of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Speaker Madobe also said he takes no sides in the dispute between Yusuf and Gedi and pledged to uphold the law.

In Mogadishu, government forces came on the verge of armed clashes after a commander allied to Yusuf demanded the Mogadishu port authority pay $US100,000.

Col. Farah Qare, backed by soldiers and 3 armored trucks, took a document signed by President Yusuf to port authorities asking for the cash withdrawal. The port authorities informed regional police and the mayor of Mogadishu, inside sources said.

Police forces loyal to national commander Gen. Abdi Qeybdiid and Mogadishu Mayor Mohamed Dheere rushed to the port with 14 battlewagons, forcing many port workers to flee the scene.

Mayor Dheere and Gen. Qeybdiid reached Mogadishu port later today and ordered Col. Qare to take his document to the Central Bank.

The incident underscores the division of loyalties within the government, insiders suggested. Dheere vacated his parliament seat in 2004 so Gedi could be appointed as the government's first prime minister.

Somalia 's interim government, created in 2004, is struggling to restore order in Mogadishu where a violent insurgency rages.

But divisions within the government have added a new dimension to the country's myriad of conflicts.

Source: Garowe Online