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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Somali: MPs to be sworn in to historic parliament | Somali: MPs to be sworn in to historic parliament |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Somalia's first formal parliament in more than 20 years is to be sworn in the capital, Mogadishu, marking an end to an eight-year transitional period. | |
| 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 city with troops and police officers patrolling the streets. |
| After choosing a Speaker, the MPs' main task will be to elect a new president - a vote expected within a week or two. | |
| Outgoing moderate Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, in power since 2009, is regarded as a favourite. | Outgoing moderate Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, in power since 2009, is regarded as a favourite. |
| Other strong candidates include Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and former parliamentary speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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' |
| Members of the new parliament are to be accredited at the country's main airport - one of the few areas of the capital considered secure. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| Analysts say Somali politicians, the United Nations and other outside powers have been working frantically to ensure a new authority is in place. | Analysts say Somali politicians, the United Nations and other outside powers have been working frantically to ensure a new authority is in place. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The selection of MPs has not been without criticism. | 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. | 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 generally 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." |
| BBC Somalia analyst Mary Harper says that whatever happens politically, Somalis are used to living without central government. | BBC Somalia analyst Mary Harper says that whatever happens politically, Somalis are used to living without central government. |
| For many of them, life is likely to carry on as before, she says. | For many of them, life is likely to carry on as before, she says. |