President Declares State of Emergency
Somalia's Transitional President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed declared a state of emergency on Saturday in areas that have been freed from the Islamists insurgents and in the internally displaced camps located within the capital of Mogadishu.
According to a statement issued by the president's office, the declaration takes immediate effect and will last three months beginning today (August 13).
The president said the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces will take control of the IDP camps in Mogadishu and in all the areas recently deserted by al-Shabaab.
Throughout the duration of the the state of emergency, the Somali military court will have permission to execute any offender in accordance with the military law.
However, officials said the state of emergency will not affect those areas in the capital which are thought to be relatively peaceful, although they added that a decree can be issued in the event of a security threat.