referred to as the "Baidoa Government." Firings In June 2006, Ghedi sacked four ministers, part of the CIA-backed Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism, who ignored his orders to stop fighting the Supreme Islamic Courts Council in the Second Battle of Mogadishu. They were: National security minister Mohamed Afrah Qanyare Commerce minister Musa Sudi Yalahow Militia rehabilitation minister Issa Botan Alin and Religious affairs minister Omar Muhamoud Finnish Resignations Following the success of the Supreme Islamic Courts Council in taking Mogadishu, and the alleged entry of Ethiopian troops into Somalia, members of the transitional government started to resign. Before the resignations started, the government consisted of 42 full ministers and a further 60 assistant ministers. The government would have to resign if more than 50% – 22 – of the full ministers resigned. On 27 July 2006 18 members resigned including the public works minister Osman Ali Atto, who said "Our government failed to implement national reconciliation, so we have decided to resign." Ghedi survived a no-confidence vote on July 30 when his opponents failed to obtain the two-thirds majority required to dismiss him. On August 1 eight more ministers resigned in protest at prime minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi's postponement of talks with the Islamic Court. Fisheries Minister Hassan Abshir Farah said "We had no option but to resign because we believe if the talks are postponed again it will affect the reconciliation efforts" By August 2, twenty-nine ministers had resigned including eleven full ministers. By August 3 the tally had reached 36, including former prime minister and health minister Muhammad Abdi Yusuf, who complained that "Our government is a reconciliation government, the prime minister has failed to honor that" By August 4, forty cabinet members and 16 full ministers had quit, including reconstruction minister Barre Shire Adan who said "I have resigned because the government of Ali Mohammed Ghedi has failed to deliver" On Monday August 7 the three top TFG leaders – Prime Minister Ghedi, President Ahmed and parliamentary speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden reportedly reached an agreement on talks with the Islamic Militia and the formation of a new government. The President announced the dissolution of the present cabinet and Ghedi was asked to propose a new cabinet, with only 31 full ministers, within a week. New cabinet On August 21 Prime Minister Gedi appointed a new reduced cabinet of 31 ministers. It included new