Somali president cuts PM’s power as rift widens

Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known by his nickname Farmajo, says he has suspended the prime minister's power to hire and fire officials, escalating a growing rift sparked by the disappearance of a security agent.

The move comes a week after Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble suspended the country's intelligence chief, accusing him of failing to investigate what happened to the agent, Ikran Tahlil Farah.

Correspondents say the divisions between Somalia's top leaders threaten to derail plans for forthcoming indirect elections.