SOMALIA: Ethiopian-backed warlord Abdullahi Yusuf was elected Somali president by lawmakers yesterday in the 14th attempt in a decade to restore government to the lawless African country writes Rob Crilly in Nairobi.
"Abdullahi Yusuf is the winner," assembly speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan told MPs meeting as an electoral college in neighbouring Kenya, saying Yusuf won 189 votes against 79 for opponent Abdullahi Addou. Two ballots were spoiled.
Yesterday's election marks the culmination of two years of peace talks designed to rebuild the shattered country.
"I praise the Somali people for their commitment to the process and for electing a new president in an orderly and transparent manner," UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative to Somalia, Winston Tubman, said.
Somalia descended into anarchy after warlords ousted then military ruler Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.
Hundreds of thousands have since died from famine, disease and violence.
The country remains divided and lawless, so the latest attempt to form a government has been held in neighbouring Kenya.
Somalia's 275 assembly members yesterday whittled the 27 contenders down to two during two rounds of voting at a packed sports stadium in Nairobi. Mr Yusuf won 147 votes in the second ballot, ahead of Mr Adow with 83.
He served as a senior military officer under Barre's regime but was forced to flee the country after his 1978 coup attempt failed.
He waged a jungle war from Ethiopia as he continued his attempt to overthrow Barre.
Mr Said Saleh, an Africa analyst who observed yesterday's vote, said it remained to be seen whether Mr Yusuf had made the transition from his warlord past.
"If he begins with reconciliation, he can bring peace. But if he starts with military action then it might be very different."