* The government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed — himself a moderate Islamist and former rebel — controls only a few districts in central Somalia and some of the capital Mogadishu. It has been unable to defeat the Islamist insurgents, but has had limited success in enticing some rebel leaders away. The government suffers from internal divisions and the loyalty of some of its security forces is also in question. It is endeavouring to built a 20,000-strong force, but says it needs more money from international donors to achieve that.