One of Somalia’s two prime ministers resigned today bringing the feuding, divided government one step closer to reunion.

A dusk-to-dawn curfew that has been in place for three months has been lifted in the Somali capital of Mogadishu for the holy month of Ramadan, a government minister said today.

Somalia’s government is holding up vital aid to tens of thousands of people as car bombs and street fighting brought the death toll to nearly 1,500 in less than a month, sending the country lurching towards catastrophe, it was warned.

Elders of the dominant clan in the Somali capital Mogadishu remain committed to a truce negotiated with Ethiopian military officials backing the government.