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Somalia prepares to elect new president Somali: MPs to be sworn in to historic parliament
(about 1 hour later)
Somalia's new parliament is preparing to hold a vote to name a president for the country. Somalia's first formal parliament in more than 20 years is to be sworn in the capital, Mogadishu, marking an end to a eight-year transitional period.
The vote by MPs will mark the end of a period of eight years of rule by the UN-backed Transitional Federal Government, whose mandate expires. Security is reported to be heavy across the city with troops and police officers patrolling the streets.
Security is reported to be heavy across the capital, Mogadishu, with troops and police officers patrolling the streets. After choosing a Speaker, the MPs' main task will be to elect a new president. The vote is expected within a week.
Outgoing President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, in power since 2009, is seen as a favourite for the role. Outgoing moderate Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, in power since 2009, is regarded as a favourite.
Other candidates include Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and parliamentary speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. Other candidates include Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and former parliamentary speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden.
Mr Ahmed is a controversial figure for Western observers. It is a critical moment for the country which, since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, has seen warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all taking a hand in its affairs.
With the help of African Union peacekeepers, the interim government has been able to gain control the capital, but al-Shabab - an armed group that has joined al-Qaeda - runs many central and southern areas of the country.
'Favours and intimidation''Favours and intimidation'
A recent UN report suggested that under his presidency there had been widespread corruption. Members of the new parliament are being accredited at the country's main airport - one of the few areas of the capital considered secure.
"Systematic embezzlement, pure and simple misappropriation of funds and theft of public money have become government systems," the July report said. The new parliament, to be made up of a lower house with 275 members and an upper house with a maximum of 54 members, is expected to hold its first session later on Monday.
In August, the UN special representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, said "favours, bribes and intimidation" had been involved during the appointment of the country's MPs. So far, about 215 MPs have been chosen - enough for a quorum - by clan elders and vetted by a technical selection committee to eliminate people accused of war crimes.
The new parliament, to be made up of a lower house with 275 members and an upper house with a maximum of 54 members, will hold its first session on Monday for the vote. The MPs' first meeting, likely to also happen at the airport for security reasons, comes on the day the mandate for Somalia's UN-backed transitional government expires.
It currently has 215 members, enough to vote for a president by secret ballot. Analysts say Somali politicians, the United Nations and other outside powers have been working frantically to ensure a new authority is in place.
The new MPs were chosen by clan elders and vetted by a technical selection committee to eliminate people accused of war crimes. It has been a long and difficult process as the country has been without effective central authority for so long that numerous power bases have emerged.
'Critical moment' The selection of MPs has not been without criticism.
In August, the UN special representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, said "favours, bribes and intimidation" had been involved during the appointments.
On Sunday, representatives from the international community flew into Mogadishu for final talks with Mr Ahmed and to resolve a problem over the issuing of identity cards for MPs.On Sunday, representatives from the international community flew into Mogadishu for final talks with Mr Ahmed and to resolve a problem over the issuing of identity cards for MPs.
The president had halted the identity cards after the selection committee rejected some proposed members of his clan.The president had halted the identity cards after the selection committee rejected some proposed members of his clan.
But the process so far has been welcomed by the international community. But the process so far has been generally welcomed by the international community.
"The conclusion of the transition should mark the beginning of more representative government in Somalia," said a statement released by the UN."The conclusion of the transition should mark the beginning of more representative government in Somalia," said a statement released by the UN.
"Whilst parliament remains a selected rather than elected body, it is essential that it cuts its ties with the past of self-interest and warlordism, and is populated by a new generation of Somali politicians, including the proper representation of Somali women.""Whilst parliament remains a selected rather than elected body, it is essential that it cuts its ties with the past of self-interest and warlordism, and is populated by a new generation of Somali politicians, including the proper representation of Somali women."
The BBC World Service's Africa Editor, Martin Plaut, says that this is a critical moment for the country which, since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, has seen warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all taking a hand in its affairs. BBC Somalia analyst Mary Harper says that whatever happens politically, Somalis are used to living without central government.
With the help of African Union peacekeepers, the interim government controls the capital but al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaeda, runs many central and southern areas of the country. For many of them, life is likely to carry on as before, she says.