Four more ministers in Somalia's transitional government have resigned, citing criticism of Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Gedi.
Water and Mineral Resources minister, Mohamud Salad Nur, and three deputy ministers announced their decision Tuesday, accusing Mr. Ali Gedi of failing to restore stability in Somalia.
Last week, 18 ministers quit the government and another minister was killed by gunmen.
The interim government based in Baidoa has been struggling to launch peace talks with Islamists who oppose the prime minister's decision to allow Ethiopian troops into the country.
Meanwhile, regional officials met Tuesday in neighboring Kenya to discuss the situation in Somalia and plans to deploy an international peacekeeping mission.
And one Islamic group - the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia - based in the capital, Mogadishu, said it was opening a sharia court in the central town of Adaado.