Hi Preempt G.O. 2nd Feb, note Yusef possibly heading to Puntland...

Hi Preempt G.O. 2nd Feb, note Yusef possibly heading to Puntland 1st hopefully to add ink to paper.

http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_s_president_leaves_London_hospital.shtml
Somalia

Somalia's president leaves London hospital
3 Feb 3, 2008 - 10:20:28 AM



MOGADISHU, Somalia Feb 3 (Garowe Online) - The interim president of Somalia's transitional government, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, left a hospital in London Saturday night where he was receiving medical treatment in recent weeks, sources said.

President Yusuf will first fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he plans to consult with Ethiopian government leaders, as well as African Union officials meeting there.


Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf
Somali Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein is currently in Addis Ababa, where AU heads of state are discussing security situations in Kenya, Somalia, Darfur and Chad.

Preliminary reports said President Yusuf, upon his return to Somalia, will first visit his native region of Puntland.

But sources close to the Somali leader privately confirmed to Garowe Online that the president will fly back to Baidoa, the temporary seat of the interim government's parliament.

President Yusuf will stay in Baidoa for a brief period, and then head back to the national capital Mogadishu, where Prime Minister Nur Adde's government is struggling to impose central authority after 17 years of civil war and disorder.

The president is "very healthy and happy," according to inside sources in London.

Yusuf's return coincides with Prime Minister Nur Adde's repeated appeals for peace talks with the armed opposition, although guerrilla attacks have shown no sign of receding.