World Bulletin / News Desk

Somalia's president fired the mayor of the capital Mogadishu on Sunday, in an apparent bid to defuse moves towards greater autonomy for the city.

Osman replaces Thabit Abdi Mohamed who has served just nine months in office.

Immediately after the mayor's firing, government security forces were deployed across Mogadishu to forestall any potential protest against the move.

Earlier, Mohamed's supporters in the city council had nominated him to head an autonomous Banadir administration, hoping to secure for the city and surrounding area equal status to Somalia's six regional states, which have their own presidents and enjoy a greater degree of autonomy.

The central government is opposed to any such efforts.

The row started earlier this month when the mayor called for a conference to discuss the future status of Banadir region, against the will of the president, who is better known by his nickname Farmajo.