Somalis were holding their breath yesterday to see if their best chance in a decade to restore central government to the war-stricken country would take wings.
The recently appointed members of an interim parliament began voting to elect a president, who would lead a three-year transition to democracy. The initiative is the result of a three-month peace conference in the neighbouring state of Djibouti.
The 245 delegates are choosing between over 20 candidates in a three-round voting process that is expected to be completed today.
On Thursday businesses were closed and streets deserted in the capital, Mogadishu, as Somalis listened to the speeches of the presidential candidates on private radio stations.
The four main Somali clans are represented in the new parliament, which has United Nations backing. Seats have also been allocated to women and minority clans.
The peace process enjoys widespread support among ordinary Somalis, who have suffered greatly due to the lack of government. Opposition from some powerful groups within Somalia could yet scupper the initiative, however. The warlords that control most of southern Somalia have boycotted the process and threatened to attack the newly appointed parliamentarians if they return to Somalia.
The Djibouti process is also being opposed by the northern provinces of Puntland and Somaliland, which have declared independence from Somalia and set up their own administrations.
However the international community is opposed to the secession of the two provinces for fear it could lead to the balkanisation of other countries.