Somali: MPs to be sworn in to historic parliament

Somalia's first formal parliament in more than 20 years is to be sworn in the capital, Mogadishu, marking an end to an eight-year transitional period.Security is reported to be heavy across the city with troops and police officers patrolling the streets.After choosing a Speaker, the MPs' main task will be to elect a new president - a vote expected within a week or two.Outgoing moderate Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, in power since 2009, is regarded as a favourite.Other strong candidates include Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and former parliamentary speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. It is a critical moment for the country which, since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, has seen warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all taking a hand in its affairs.With the help of African Union peacekeepers, the interim government has been able to gain control the capital, but al-Shabab - an armed group that has joined al-Qaeda - runs many central and southern areas of the country

'Favours and intimidation'

Members of the new parliament spent Monday morning at the country's main airport - one of the few areas of the capital considered secure - being accredited.The new parliament, to be made up of a lower house with 275 members and an upper house with a maximum of 54 members, will hold its first session later on Monday.So far, about 215 MPs have been chosen - enough for a quorum - by clan elders and vetted by a technical selection committee to eliminate people accused of war crimes.

The MPs' first meeting, likely to also happen at the airport for security reasons, comes on the day the mandate for Somalia's UN-backed transitional government expires.

Analysts say Somali politicians, the United Nations and other outside powers have been working frantically to ensure a new authority is in place. It has been a long and difficult process as the country has been without effective central authority for so long that numerous power bases have emerged.

The selection of MPs has not been without criticism.

Earlier this month, the UN special representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, said "favours, bribes and intimidation" had been involved during the appointments.

On Sunday, representatives from the international community flew into Mogadishu for final talks with Mr Ahmed and to resolve a problem over the issuing of identity cards for MPs.

The president had halted the identity cards after the selection committee rejected some proposed members of his clan.

But the process so far has been generally welcomed by the international community.

"The conclusion of the transition should mark the beginning of more representative government in Somalia," said a statement released by the UN.

"Whilst parliament remains a selected rather than elected body, it is essential that it cuts its ties with the past of self-interest and warlordism, and is populated by a new generation of Somali politicians, including the proper representation of Somali women."

Somali affairs analyst Mohammed Adbullahi Hassan says whoever is elected will have more legitimacy and the end of the transitional period means the country will no longer be considered a pariah state.

But the credibility of Somali politicians - accused in a recent UN report of "systematic embezzlement" - is an issue, he says.

The main criteria for president seemed to be "who has the deepest pockets", he told the BBC's Newsday programme bbc