Tuesday, January 30, 2007
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BAIDOA, Somalia (AFP) - Somali lawmakers gathered here Tuesday ahead of a vote to elect a new parliament speaker to replace the man ousted nearly two weeks ago for his overtures to a now-defeated Islamist movement.The legislators met in the town of Baidoa, seat of the parliament and transitional government, where 11 candidates are campaigning to succeed maverick ex-speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden in Wednesday's vote.
The main contenders include Deputy Prime Minister Sali Alliyow Ibrow, Justice Minister Aden Mohamed Nur and MP Sarredo Abdallah, the only woman candidate.
On January 17, lawmakers in the 275-member clan-based assembly voted overwhelmingly to sack Aden, who some accused of an unauthorised move to broker talks with the Islamists after the collapse of peace talks in November.
Aden's ouster sparked an avalanche of criticism from the international community, which fears his removal could destabilise the already delicate clan balance in the interim government that has been unable to exert authority in Somalia since its 2004 formation in Kenya.
Tuesday's meeting followed word that transitional Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed's plans to host a national reconciliation conference for the lawless nation that has been beleaguered by years of conflict.
The government is trying to firm up its control in the capital Mogadishu where it toppled the Islamists with the backing of Ethiopian forces last month, but is been faced with opposition from armed clan militia.
Source: AFP, Jan 30, 2007