Somalia’s newly appointed prime minister has resigned over a power struggle between two factions of the country's tottering government.

Abdullahi Yusuf, Somalia’s president, appointed Mohamed Mohamud Guled as prime minister on December 16 after the president unilaterally fired Nur Hassan Hussein.

Parliament refused to back the president, leaving it unclear which prime minister was in charge.

Guled told reporters on Wednesday he was resigning in an effort to end the infighting among Hussein's and Yusuf's factions in the government.

"After evaluating the current situation in Somalia, I have decided to resign," Guled told reporters at his house.
   
"I stood down so that I am not seen as a stumbling block to the peace process which is going on well now."