Somalia: President Sharif: Candidates should be judged by an impartial court 18 Aug 18, 2012 - 7:08:51 AM
MOGADISHU, Somalia Aug 18 2012 (Garowe Online) – Transitional Federal Government (TFG) President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed stated that the selection committee who are selecting MPs do not have the mandate to judge candidates, Garowe Online reports.
President Sharif stated to media on Friday that the candidates who were rejected as MPs by the Technical Selection Committee (TSC) should not be judged by the committee but should receive a fair trial.
“If you want to accuse somebody of a certain crime you need to first prove it in an impartial court, and with the candidates who were rejected from parliament there is no court which has found them guilty,” said President Sharif.
More than 70 people were rejected as MPs after the candidates failed to meet the criteria which had leaders including the international community agreed upon.
According to a statement by the UN, IGAD and the African Union the TSC were also given “comprehensive information” about potential candidates.
According to our sources in Mogadishu, key politicians including President Sharif who is a presidential candidate has lobbied for many candidates to become members of parliament however a large portion of them were rejected by the TSC.
Former ICU deputy executive head and former TFG Interior Minister under President Sharif’s tenure, Sheikh Abdiqadir Ali Omar was rejected as MP. Also TFG Minister of Health Dr. Shiekh Abdiaziz’s bid for parliament was rejected.
President Sharif announced on Friday as well that he is prepared to accept the results of the upcoming presidential elections.
“I am ready to consent to the outcome of the elections whatever it is,” said President Sharif.
President Sharif who met with UN Representative for Somalia Augustine Mahiga said that the two agreed to end the transition on schedule, despite the recent setbacks.
