MOGADISHU, Jan 13: Somalia's parliament gave interim President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed backing on Saturday to impose martial law after the government's Islamist enemies were forced from their last remaining hideout.

As Ahmed's weak transitional administration sought to stamp its authority by rounding up weapons in the capital Mogadishu, MPs sitting in the town of Baidoa approved a motion on a state of emergency, which enables the government to impose martial law across the lawless nation.

A government statement said the overwhelming vote would give it the right to take “all necessary actions to enforce security in the country”.

The government first announced its intention to impose martial law late last month, shortly after the Islamists, who had been in power in Mogadishu since June, fled the capital.

While Saturday's vote was a formality, it gives Yusuf's regime added authority in its quest to curb the activities of the country's warlords and their militiamen.

The law allows the president to issue decrees on matters of national security, bans unlawful demonstrations and outlaws the spreading of propaganda.

It also gives legal backing to the presence of Ethiopian troops which has spurred resentment among locals who have for decades traditionally regarded Addis Ababa as an enemy.

Somalis were divided on the new law, which is sure to face opposition from armed groups in the country.

“If the whole idea is to fight insecurity, Somalia must accept the law,” said former teacher Sheikh Ahmed Awill Ibrahim. “But if this is a dictatorial tendency by President Yusuf, we shall oppose it.” ”I do not care if the gunmen are arrested under the new law because they have mistreated us for the last 15 years,” said Khadija Mohamed, a midwife.

Abdi Mohamed Kathar, a student, disagreed. “First, the Ethiopian troops must go out of our country. Imposing harsh laws is a recipe for the continuation of civil strife,” he said.

The transitional government was formed in Kenya in 2004 and returned to Somalia the following year but, unable to go to Mogadishu, set up in Baidoa some 240 kilometres northwest of the capital.

At least 10 people have been killed in Mogadishu since the Islamists fled, including attacks targeted at Ethiopian camps and convoys.

The government has blamed the attacks on Islamist fighters who are still holed up in Mogadishu.

The search comes a day after the key Mogadishu warlords agreed to disarm their fighters and join the government. The committee which will oversee the implementation of the ceasefire was due to meet for the first time Saturday.