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Somali MPs electing new president Somali MPs choose new president
(about 7 hours later)
Somali members of parliament are voting to elect a new president in a secret ballot in Djibouti. Moderate Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed has been elected Somalia's new president, after a secret ballot of members of parliament.
Frontrunners from a field of at least 14 candidates include Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and moderate Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. Mr Ahmed comfortably won a majority in a second round of voting after one of the frontrunners, Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, withdrew.
MPs are meeting in Djibouti because of instability in Somalia, where Islamist militias control much of the country. The election followed the resignation of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.
The election comes after the resignation of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed in December. MPs met in Djibouti because of instability in Somalia, where Islamist militias control much of the country.
This week, 149 new opposition members from the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS), which is led by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, were sworn in to parliament. Mr Ahmed is due to be sworn in as president later on Saturday, before representing Somalia at an African Union summit in Addis Ababa over the weekend.
Earlier this week, 149 new opposition members from the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS), which is led by Mr Ahmed, were sworn in to parliament.
But the Islamist al-Shabab militia says it will not recognise the new government. SOMALIA'S ANARCHY 1.3 million displaced3.5 million need food aid - 43% of the populationNo central government since 1991 Somali presidential profiles 'I'm not afraid of al-Shabab'Q&A: Somali presidential elections But the Islamist al-Shabab militia says it will not recognise the new government. SOMALIA'S ANARCHY 1.3 million displaced3.5 million need food aid - 43% of the populationNo central government since 1991 Somali presidential profiles 'I'm not afraid of al-Shabab'Q&A: Somali presidential elections
For the presidential election, each candidate was expected to present $2,000, a CV and official documents.For the presidential election, each candidate was expected to present $2,000, a CV and official documents.
The new head of state is due to be sworn in on Saturday.
He is then expected to fly to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for an African Union summit.
Parliament is meant to relocate from Djibouti to the Somali capital Mogadishu within days.Parliament is meant to relocate from Djibouti to the Somali capital Mogadishu within days.
But Mogadishu is facing an insurgency and there are not enough AU peacekeeping troops to protect all the MPs, correspondents say.But Mogadishu is facing an insurgency and there are not enough AU peacekeeping troops to protect all the MPs, correspondents say.
It is thought that some will stay in Djibouti and others will relocate to Kenya.It is thought that some will stay in Djibouti and others will relocate to Kenya.
Al-Shabab militiamen control the former seat of parliament, Baidoa, and many other parts of central and southern Somalia.Al-Shabab militiamen control the former seat of parliament, Baidoa, and many other parts of central and southern Somalia.
Mr Yusuf resigned as president in December. He had been accused by the prime minister and parliament of being an obstacle to peace in the country.
Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991, and the northern regions of Somaliland and Puntland have broken away to govern themselves.Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991, and the northern regions of Somaliland and Puntland have broken away to govern themselves.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in successive waves of violence.Tens of thousands of people have been killed in successive waves of violence.
More than a million people have fled their homes.More than a million people have fled their homes.
And 43% of the population - 3.5 million - need food aid, donors say.And 43% of the population - 3.5 million - need food aid, donors say.