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Roundup: Somali MPs sworn in after prolonged electoral process

Xinhua, December 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

A total of 284 new members of the lower and upper houses of the Somali federal parliament were sworn in on Tuesday in the capital Mogadishu, officials said.

The secretary of the Somali parliament, Abdikarin Haji Buh, said 243 members of the lower house and 41 members of the upper house took the oath at the General Kahiye Police Academy.

"Two interim chairpersons have been selected to chair the next session where the speaker of each house will be elected," Buh said.

Former Speaker of the Somali Parliament, Mohamed Osman Jawari, said that the previous house speakers had already handed over power to the two interim chairpersons.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has welcomed the inauguration of the federal Parliamentarians.

The African Union (AU) and international partners have also congratulated the move.

The Head of AU Mission in Somalia, Francisco Madeira, said in a statement that the inauguration of the new parliament is symbolic of the progress that Somalia is making.

"It also attests to what is achievable when people choose unity in diversity, agree to compromise for the common good and with determination agree to pull together to fight the enemies of peace and stability in Somalia," Madeira said.

International partners said in another statement that the inauguration of the federal parliament represented a step forward in the electoral process.

Main roads in the Somali capital were closed and security was tightened ahead of and during the event as Somalia has suffered frequent attacks by Islamist group Al-Shabaab.

"We were prepared to ensure that security prevails during the inauguration of the new parliament and as well as in the elections for new speakers," said Benadir police commissioner, Bashir Abshir Gedi.

The swearing-in of the new parliament came after a number of delays in the electoral process. The MPs are expected to elect a new president in January. The presidential election, which was first set in September, has been postponed four times. Endit