​Somalia's Parliament set to pick its Speaker

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The MPs of Somalia's Lower House chamber are casting their votes to elect a new Speaker in a secret ballot in Mogadishu, after they had been inaugurated in the capital last December, Garowe Online reports.

Former Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari and MP Abdirashid Mohamed Hidig are among other candidates vying for the seat of the Speaker of the Parliament.

The first round of the election is underway, the candidates with the majority votes will proceed in the second round. The local media, mainly TV channels are broadcasting live the election event.

Mogadishu was locked-down ahead of the election for the Parliament Speaker. Hundreds of police and Intelligence forces have been deployed in the main roads of the capital and the surrounding areas.

On Thursday, the MPs are scheduled to vote for the Deputy Speakers of the Lower House. After the voting for the parliament leadership, the legislators will elect a new president on a date to be set later.