Somalia’s president early bowed to growing opposition to his extended stay in office, urging a return to negotiations on the country’s delayed election and vowing that the sight of rival soldiers clashing in the streets of the capital would not happen again.

The president will speak to parliament on Saturday to inform them of developments.  Residents of Mogadishu fled several neighbourhoods on Tuesday fearing renewed clashes between rival factions in the security forces. Somali opposition fighters took up positions in parts of the tense capital on Monday, a day after clashes with government troops erupted.

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, known as Farmaajo, had faced growing opposition after his mandate expired on February 8. The lower house of parliament approved the extension of his mandate and he signed it into law in April, to the fury of Senate leaders who called the move illegal. The mandate of Mohamed, known as Farmaajo, expired on February 8 with no agreement on a transition to a new government.