Somalia
Somalia: 'Unity government' to elect new President, Speaker of Parliament
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Nov 26, 2008 - 5:43:34 PM

DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti Nov 26 (Garowe Online) - The final round of Somali peace talks that started in June ended Wednesday in the Republic of Djibouti, where the interim government and an opposition faction signed a power-sharing agreement.

The new agreement intends to build a 'unity government' within the next two months, which would include members of a pro-peace opposition faction led by Islamist chief Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

The agreement calls for expanding the current parliament from 275 to 550 seats and holding a new presidential election in January 2009, after lawmakers appoint a new parliament Speaker.

Further, the power-sharing deal extends the transitional period by an additional two years from January to allow the new 'unity government' time to make progress.

Abdirahman Abdishakur, who spoke for the opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), told reporters that the additional 275 seats will include Islamists, Diaspora activists and women.

UN Special Envoy Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, who helped facilitate the peace process from the onset, welcomed the new agreement as "very encouraging."

Sources close to President Abdullahi Yusuf tell Garowe Online that the Somali leader is "in disagreement" with the power-sharing deal.

Yusuf is currently in Puntland, his native region, where he is expected to attend the coronation of a clan chief.

Source: Garowe Online