Somali president quits, ending deadlock

Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf resigned yesterday, ending a deadlock at the top of the interim government and paving the way for a new administration in the anarchic Horn of Africa nation.

Yusuf told parliament that speaker Sheikh Aden Madobe would take over, in line with the constitution, and blamed the international community for failing to support the government.

Madobe told reporters in Baidoa that he would remain until a new president was elected and said the government would have talks with "any opposition group".