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| Somali MPs to elect new president in historic vote | Somali MPs to elect new president in historic vote |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Somalia's parliament is due to start choosing a new president, in the latest step to end decades of war. | Somalia's parliament is due to start choosing a new president, in the latest step to end decades of war. |
| The newly-elected MPs are convening at a police academy in Mogadishu for the secret ballot. | |
| The BBC's Daud Aweis in Mogadishu says the process is behind schedule, with MPs and their staff queuing up to go through tight security checks. | |
| It is the first time in many years that a president will be chosen on Somali soil - a sign of improving security. | |
| However, the al-Qaeda linked group, al-Shabab, still controls many southern and central parts of the country, and has staged frequent suicide attacks in the capital since it was forced out of Mogadishu last year. | |
| Current Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, in power since 2009, is regarded as one of the favourites among the 24 candidates. | |
| The president's opponents have accused him of corruption - a charge he has repeatedly denied. | The president's opponents have accused him of corruption - a charge he has repeatedly denied. |
| Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali is seen as one of his strongest challengers. | |
| To win in the first round of voting, a candidate needs to secure a two-thirds majority. | |
| If no candidate achieves that, the four best-placed candidates go through to a second round, when again a two-thirds majority is needed. | |
| The new speaker of parliament, Mohamed Osman Jawari, has urged MPs to vote with their consciences. | The new speaker of parliament, Mohamed Osman Jawari, has urged MPs to vote with their consciences. |
| "May God help us to elect a good leader in an atmosphere of tranquillity. We must give the youth of Somalia a bright future," he said. | |
| The process is still in many ways owned by outside powers who have for years been involved militarily and politically in Somalia, the BBC's Mary Harper reports. | The process is still in many ways owned by outside powers who have for years been involved militarily and politically in Somalia, the BBC's Mary Harper reports. |
| She says that it is telling that in recent days the UN, the African Union, the US, Britain and others have issued strong statements on Somalia, some warning that resorting to violence is not an option. | She says that it is telling that in recent days the UN, the African Union, the US, Britain and others have issued strong statements on Somalia, some warning that resorting to violence is not an option. |
| They have invested so much money, time and manpower in trying to solve the Somali problem that they cannot afford to see it fail, our correspondent adds. | They have invested so much money, time and manpower in trying to solve the Somali problem that they cannot afford to see it fail, our correspondent adds. |
| Despite fears that the poll may be flawed, many Somalis welcomed the move. | Despite fears that the poll may be flawed, many Somalis welcomed the move. |
| "This is a historic moment. It's something we have to witness and be a part of, even if we're not voting," Najmah Ahmed Abdi, who runs a Somali youth forum, was quoted as saying by Reuters. | "This is a historic moment. It's something we have to witness and be a part of, even if we're not voting," Najmah Ahmed Abdi, who runs a Somali youth forum, was quoted as saying by Reuters. |
| "We've been through a very difficult labour and we're finally giving birth," he added. | "We've been through a very difficult labour and we're finally giving birth," he added. |
| Since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has seen warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all taking a hand in its affairs. | Since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has seen warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all taking a hand in its affairs. |
| With the help of AU troops, the interim government has been able to gain control of the capital. | With the help of AU troops, the interim government has been able to gain control of the capital. |