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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Somali parliament to vote for new president | Somali parliament to vote for new president |
| (9 days later) | |
| Somalia's new parliament is due to vote for a new president, a move that members of the international community say is a key step towards the country's transition from a war-torn failed state to a nation with an effective government. | Somalia's new parliament is due to vote for a new president, a move that members of the international community say is a key step towards the country's transition from a war-torn failed state to a nation with an effective government. |
| While Somalia has had transitional administrations since 2004, it has not had a functioning central government since 1991, when warlords overthrew a longtime dictator and turned on each other, plunging the impoverished nation into chaos. | While Somalia has had transitional administrations since 2004, it has not had a functioning central government since 1991, when warlords overthrew a longtime dictator and turned on each other, plunging the impoverished nation into chaos. |
| Augustine Mahiga, the UN special representative for Somalia, urged parliamentarians to think of the good of their country and vote with a clear conscience. | Augustine Mahiga, the UN special representative for Somalia, urged parliamentarians to think of the good of their country and vote with a clear conscience. |
| The UN-backed process of electing the country's next government has been criticised for corruption and threats of violence. | The UN-backed process of electing the country's next government has been criticised for corruption and threats of violence. |
| The International Crisis Group thinktank has claimed the process has been as undemocratic as the Transitional Federal Government structure it seeks to replace, "with unprecedented levels of political interference, corruption and intimidation". | The International Crisis Group thinktank has claimed the process has been as undemocratic as the Transitional Federal Government structure it seeks to replace, "with unprecedented levels of political interference, corruption and intimidation". |
| The US government called on Somali lawmakers to act with courage, determination and integrity in conducting a fair and transparent election. | The US government called on Somali lawmakers to act with courage, determination and integrity in conducting a fair and transparent election. |
| Patrick Ventrell, acting deputy spokesman for the state department, urged those who lose the election to accept the result, and refrain from inciting violence or encouraging others to distance themselves from Somalia's new federal governmental institutions. | Patrick Ventrell, acting deputy spokesman for the state department, urged those who lose the election to accept the result, and refrain from inciting violence or encouraging others to distance themselves from Somalia's new federal governmental institutions. |
| Somalia's intricate clan politics and loyalties must be navigated in the selection of the country's leaders. A clan that wins the post of speaker, for example, is not eligible to get the presidency. | Somalia's intricate clan politics and loyalties must be navigated in the selection of the country's leaders. A clan that wins the post of speaker, for example, is not eligible to get the presidency. |
| Somali elders were charged with naming a full parliament, since a general election is impossible because of fears over security. | Somali elders were charged with naming a full parliament, since a general election is impossible because of fears over security. |
| An incomplete parliament elected the former labour minister Mohamed Osman Jawari as the new speaker on 28 August. | An incomplete parliament elected the former labour minister Mohamed Osman Jawari as the new speaker on 28 August. |
| The last day of the eight-year UN-backed transitional government was 20 August and the UN wanted a new president in place by then. But political bickering, threats and seat-buying schemes delayed progress towards the selection and seating of 275 members of the new parliament that will select a president. | The last day of the eight-year UN-backed transitional government was 20 August and the UN wanted a new president in place by then. But political bickering, threats and seat-buying schemes delayed progress towards the selection and seating of 275 members of the new parliament that will select a president. |
| Somalia has seen much progress over the past year. Al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab militants were forced out of Mogadishu in August 2011, allowing businesses to thrive and the arts and sports to return. Al-Shabaab has lost control of Mogadishu and ceded power in towns in western Somalia. The militants have largely either fled to northern Somalia and Yemen, or have retreated to Kismayo, the last major town controlled by the militants. | Somalia has seen much progress over the past year. Al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab militants were forced out of Mogadishu in August 2011, allowing businesses to thrive and the arts and sports to return. Al-Shabaab has lost control of Mogadishu and ceded power in towns in western Somalia. The militants have largely either fled to northern Somalia and Yemen, or have retreated to Kismayo, the last major town controlled by the militants. |
| Last month, Somali leaders endorsed a new provisional constitution that expands rights for Somali citizens. The UN – which helped broker the constitution and is in charge of the poll – hopes that one day all of Somalia will be able to vote to endorse or reject the constitution. | Last month, Somali leaders endorsed a new provisional constitution that expands rights for Somali citizens. The UN – which helped broker the constitution and is in charge of the poll – hopes that one day all of Somalia will be able to vote to endorse or reject the constitution. |
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