NAIROBI, ADDIS ABABA, –The UN and the AU have both warmly welcomed the resignation of Somalia’s President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as a positive development for peace prospects in that beleaguered Horn of African country.

In a statement a copy of which has been sent to Awdalnews, UN Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah described Yusuf’s resignation as “a new page of Somalia history is now open.”

Yusuf has formally announced his resignation from office, effective today, in a statement before the Parliament and cabinet members present in Baidoa

“Indeed President Yusuf has taken his courageous decision on his own and in total independence. I have no doubt that members of his family, his friends and allies support this decision,” Mr. Ould-Abdallah said. “It is my understanding that this is the first time in Somalia modern history that a President has decided to leave office peacefully. It is a patriotic and courageous decision.”

Mr. Ould-Abdallah called upon the Somali people within and outside the country to support the President in these historic moments. “I also invite them to take this opportunity to rise above their differences. Time is for unity and solidarity.”

The leaders must support the Djibouti peace process, Mr. Ould-Abdallah said, and work closely with all their international partners and indeed amongst themselves. “The IGAD, AU, LAS, OIC, the EU and the UN stand ready to put an end to Somali long suffering in cooperation with Somali leadership and its people. ‘Affa Allah A’nn Ma Salaf’ God forgives the past.

“I am very pleased by the organized manner in which the President has resigned. I also take note with great appreciation of the manner in which the Speaker-Interim President, the Prime Minister and Shaikh Sharif and other eminent patriotic Somali from all backgrounds are meeting in Mogadishu and Baidoa to address the new situation,” Mr. Ould-Abdallah said.

“Time is now for Somali friends to help the country and for the spoilers to stop their destructive behaviour.”

Meanwhile, The African Union (AU) appeared upbeat on a quick solution to the political deadlock in Somalia on Monday, hours after President Abdullahi Yusuf tendered his resignation to the speaker after four years at the helm. AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramntane Lamamra welcomed the resignation, saying that the new government should move “more steadily” to implement the outcome of months of discussions on a model power-sharing reached in Djibouti in October. “We hope this development would help the Somalis to implement the outcome of the Djibouti process to put in place an expanded cabinet and an expanded parliament, which have been approved by the Transitional Federal Parliament,” Ambassador