Martial law for Somalia as government asserts authority

MOGADISHU (AFP) - Somalia's parliament has given interim President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed backing to impose martial law after the government's Islamist enemies were forced from their last remaining hideout.

As Ahmed's weak transitional administration sought to stamp its authority by rounding up weapons in the capital Mogadishu, MPs sitting in the town of Baidoa approved a motion on a state of emergency, which enables the government to impose martial law across the lawless nation Saturday.

A government statement said the overwhelming vote would give it the right to take "all necessary actions to enforce security in the country".

The government first announced its intention to impose martial law late last month, shortly after the Islamists, who had been in power in Mogadishu since June, fled the capital.