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Somalia Government in Standoff Over Proposed Peacekeeping Troops


Somalia's interim government remained deadlocked over peacekeeping troops Friday, after a contentious vote in the fledgling parliament erupted into a bloody brawl.

A majority of parliamentarians voted Thursday against the Somali president's call for peacekeepers from bordering states to help stabilize Somalia.

But Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Gedi said the vote was flawed and must be held again.

The speaker of the parliament defended the vote, saying lawmakers would accept troops from states other than Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti, which they accuse of backing violent factions in Somalia.

Lawmakers came to blows after Thursday's vote in the parliament, currently based in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Chaos erupted with members of parliament throwing metal chairs and beating each other with walking sticks and clubs.

Some information for this report provided by AP, Reuters.

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