MOGADISHU, Aug 12 (Reuters) - The president of Somalia, Abdullahi Yusuf, on Tuesday defended his decision to reinstate the mayor of Mogadishu, who had been sacked by his prime minister, saying only he had the power to act in such cases.
A rift between Yusuf and his premier, Nur Hassan Hussein, has widened after Hussein sacked former warlord and Mogadishu mayor Mohamed Dheere over financial mismanagement and his inability to end the worsening insecurity in the capital.
Speaking at his white-washed presidential palace in a hilly Mogadishu suburb, Yusuf said that under the interim constitution powers over such appointments were vested only in the presidency.
"People say I am against reconciliation. The issue is not political, it's based on the constitution. I am committed to reconciliation," the 74-year-old former colonel told reporters.
Ten ministers allied to Yusuf resigned in protest when Hussein sacked Dheere at the end of July.
"It's not out of love or hate for Mohamed Dheere (that I reinstated him). I can be replaced, Mohamed Dheere can be replaced ... but the constitution cannot be changed," he said, flanked by aides in the heavily guarded palace.
Yusuf also said he was committed to U.N.-mediated talks with Islamist opposition members in Djibouti. The two parties signed a ceasefire deal in June, but the pact has since been broken.
"We are ready for the peace talks," Yusuf said in a statement. "I hope the opposition will join the government so that Somalia can get a political settlement."
He said security and political committees from both sides would soon meet again in Djibouti to iron out differences before they head to Saudi Arabia to sign a final pact.
His fragile interim government is struggling to assert its authority and is facing a 20-month Iraqi-style insurgency. Somalia has witnessed unending violence since former strongman Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991.
Yusuf was nominated Somalia's president by lawmakers at their 14th attempt to restore central government. [/size]
"In Tuesday's rare press briefing, he accused Islamist groups of provoking violence.
"They attack the presidential palace and our houses, forcing us to defend ourselves. I don't know what kind of Islamic faith allows women cleaners to be bombed. I don't also understand why people should not fight off these elements," he said.
The violence in Somalia has already claimed the lives of more than 8,000 civilians and driven 1 million from their homes since January 2007. (Writing by Guled Mohamed in Nairobi; editing by Giles Elgood) (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/)
