26/05/2012 09:53
Somali holds presidential elections on August 20
African Union and Somali troops seized a town on the outskirts of Mogadishu on Friday from Islamist militants after three days of fighting, marking the biggest victory over al-Shabab since the pro-government forces took control of the capital last August, the AP reports.
A top United Nations official, meanwhile, announced that a presidential election in Somalia will be held on Aug. 20 — with votes cast by lawmakers instead of by ordinary Somalis because of continued insecurity in the country.
Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, the spokesman for African Union forces, said the troops moved into Afgoye on Friday and that most of the town was under the coalition's control.
The next Somali presidential election will take place on Aug. 20. Votes will be cast by members of a new 225-member parliament. However, voting isn't being opened to the public because of a lack of security across the country.