Somali President Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed on Monday announced his resignation and handed over presidency to Speaker of parliament Sheik Aden Madoobe, ending an infighting with Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein which has almost brought the transitional government to the brink of collapse.

Yusuf made the announcement while addressing the parliament in the southern town of Baidoa.

Yusuf said "If I was unable to fulfill my duty I will resign."

"I said I will do everything in my power to make government work across the country. That did not happen either," Yusuf told the parliament.

"I asked the leaders to cooperate with me for the common good of the people. That also did not happened." he added.

"As I promised when you elected me on Oct. 14, 2004, I would stand off if I failed to fulfill my duty. I have decided to return the responsibility you gave me," he added.

Yusuf said he had handed over his letter of resignation to the speaker of parliamement and the speaker would take the presidency in accordance with the transitional federal charter.

Yusuf sacked his Prime Minister Hussein on Dec. 14, accusing him of incompetence, embezzlement and mismanagement.

The two senior Somali leaders have been in deep disagreement over a variety of issues including the way Somali national reconciliation is being handled.

The Somali Parliament, one day after the sacking of the prime minister, voted to endorse Hussein and his government, overturning Yuruf Ahmed's decision.

In a vote in Parliament, 143 out of the 170 lawmakers voted for the government, 20 rejected and 7 abstained.

"143 of the 170 parliamentarians present voted in favour of the prime minister and his government while 20 voted against and 7 abstained," Sheik Aden Madoobe, parliament speaker, said after the vote.

"So the prime Minister and the government can continue serving the nation and the president's decision is null and void," the speaker said.

Rejecting the vote of parliament, Yusuf named Mohamed Mohamoud Guled Gamadere as new prime minister to replace Hussein the following day.

Gamadere, a long-time close ally of President Yusuf, served in the government of the former Prime Minister Ali Mohamod Gedi, in which he held two different ministerial portfolios as minister of Public Works and Housing and Interior Minister.

But the newly-appointed prime minister announced his resignation Wednesday. He was quoted as saying that he made the decision after looking into the situation in the country.

Somali lawmakers tabled a motion days ago, seeking to impeach the Somali president who they have accused of "violating the national charter" and alienating some of Somalia's communities.

(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2008)