Somali MPs electing new president in historic vote

Somalia’s parliament has started choosing a new president, in the latest step to end decades of war.

The newly elected MPs have convened at a police academy in Mogadishu for the secret ballot. The process began five hours late, following tight security checks and a wrangle about whether to let former warlords vote.

It is the first time in many years that a president will be chosen on Somali soil – a sign of improving security. However, the al-Qaeda linked group, al-Shabab, still controls many southern and central parts of the country, and has staged frequent suicide attacks in the capital since it was driven out of Mogadishu last year by African Union troops and pro-government forces.

Current Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, in power since 2009, is regarded as one of the favourites among the 22 candidates.

The president’s opponents have accused him of corruption – a charge he has repeatedly denied.