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UN Chief Concerned About Somali Transition Delays

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a visit to the Korean Committee for UNICEF in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 14, 2012.

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VOA News

August 14, 2012

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is "seriously concerned" about delays in selecting Somalia's new parliament, and says political leaders need to work in the best interest of the Somali people.

Ban said in a statement that he is encouraged by the progress Somalia has made in its transition. But he says that intimidation and violence should not be allowed to threaten the process.

A U.N. mandate for the existing transitional government in Somalia expires August 20. Leaders have already adopted a new provisional constitution, but must still select the parliament members and elect a new president.

Ban says those tasks must be done impartially and free from intimidation and corruption.

Somalia has been without a stable central government since 1991.

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by: marcellinus elechi from: texas

August 14, 2012 1:02 PM

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africa needs to be revisited. different people, tribes and different religious sects need to be offered the opportunity to re: district , re: sourveignize in line with blood relationships , cultural and religious similarities, accomodation and otherwise. africans did not decide by themselves in which countries the find themselves. we want the world to give us the opportunity to participate in deciding african destiny. un you owe us, that is all africans this golding opportunity. until then african will continue to be a continent of concern to the world. peace and unity will continue to elude the continent.

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