Somalia: A new parliament but no presidential vote

[August 20, 2012]  MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- Members of a new parliament in Somalia are being sworn in, but there will be no presidential election.

The mandate for Somalia's U.N. mandate ended Monday, the day by which international backers had hoped a new presidential election would be held. But selection of a new, 275-member parliament has lagged behind schedule amid allegations of intimidation and corruption, and elections for a speaker of parliament and president are still several days away.

Some 225 people have been named to the 275-member parliament, and those members are to be sworn in Monday. When the full body is seated, elections will be held.

Somalia has been without a fully functioning government since 1991. The U.N. hopes the current political changes will help seat a government that can provide services to the people.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.