Somalia poised to form government

Sunday, 29 August, 2004, 14:09 GMT 15:09 UK

Somalia is poised to establish its first central government in more than 15 years.

The first stage of the process - the setting up a new parliament - is expected to be completed on Sunday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The process suffered a delay last week, when one of the country's four major clans refused to name representatives to the 275-member assembly.

The new body is expected to elect a president to be based in Mogadishu.

'Excitement'

Somalia's central government fell apart in 1991, after dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was forced out by warlords.

The ensuing fighting between clans led to famine and disease, which resulted in the deaths of up to one million people.

After lengthy peace negotiations, rival factions in January agreed in Kenya to sign deal to set up new parliament.

Most of the body's 275 members were sworn in at a ceremony in Kenya last week.

On Sunday, the remaining Darod clan named their representatives.

Many Darod inhabit Somalia's autonomous north-eastern region of Puntland.

A BBC correspondent in Nairobi says there is excitement as everyone gathers for the inauguration ceremony.

Kenyan diplomat Bethuel Kiplagat, who has been chairing the talks, said that although a handful of delegates still needed to be named, the parliament's representatives would elect a speaker.

"We can not wait until they (members of the transitional parliament) are all selected," he said.

According to a charter signed by delegates in January, Somalia's four major clans are each able to select 61 members to the parliament, while one coalition of smaller clans is permitted to select 31 members.

The president they select will pick a prime minister, who will form a government.

Somali elders, businessmen and religious leaders attempted to form a transitional national government in 2000.

But the body had never managed to control more than a few neighbourhoods in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia. Its mandate expired in August 2003.

Somaliland, a breakaway region in the north of Somalia, is not included in the new parliament.