Somali leaders have adopted a plan to replace the country's fragile transitional government by next August.
President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed announced details of the so-called "roadmap" after a three-day conference in the capital, Mogadishu.
Under the plan signed Tuesday, leaders agreed to create a new constitution, revamp parliament and improve security in the war-ravaged capital.
Somalia's transitional government has been largely paralyzed by infighting since it was formed seven years ago.
However, it recently scored a success when militant group al-Shabab pulled its fighters from Mogadishu after an offensive by government and African Union troops.
Al-Shabab still controls large parts of southern and central Somalia, and the country as a whole is suffering the effects of devastating drought and famine.
The United Nations-sponsored talks included leaders from the transitional government, parliament, the semi-autonomous region of Puntland and the government-allied militia, Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jamma.
Earlier during the conference, the leaders of the Galmudug and Puntland regions agreed to settle a dispute stemming from tribal clashes that killed 27 people last week.
The neighboring states agreed to a truce and to take measures to prevent more hostilities.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
