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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. | 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. | 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. | 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' | |
| Members of the new parliament spent Monday morning at the country's main airport - one of the few areas of the capital considered secure - being accredited. | |
| It is easy to be cynical about Somali politics, which is always complex, long-winded and difficult for outsiders to understand. But today the situation has changed significantly. | |
| The date - 20 August 2012 - is key for two main reasons. It marks the end of the mandate of Somalia's transitional government. And, perhaps more significantly, with the first sitting of a new parliament, it marks the beginning of a fresh start for a country torn apart by years of conflict and political uncertainty. | |
| It is the first parliament chosen in Somalia to sit in Mogadishu for more than two decades. In the face of serious intimidation, a technical committee has removed as MPs some of those linked to violence and corruption. Things are a bit behind schedule. Parliament was meant to have elected a new president on 20 August, but what is important is that the process has begun. There should be new head of state and government in the not too distant future. | |
| But for most Somalis, especially those living outside Mogadishu in areas controlled by religious groups and clan militias, life is unlikely to change for some time to come. They are used to living without effective central government, and it is unlikely that the new administration will be able to immediately exercise power much beyond the capital. | |
| 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 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. |
| Earlier this month, 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." |