Somali capital holds first direct election in five decades

"Residents of Somalia's capital are casting ballots in local council elections, marking the first time in more than 50 years that voters will directly choose their representatives, a milestone overshadowed by opposition boycotts. Polling stations across Mogadishu opened at 6am local time (03:00 GMT) on Thursday, with lines forming early as Somalis queued to participate in what President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called a new chapter in the country's history."

"About half a million people registered to vote for 390 district council seats, with approximately 1,605 candidates competing across 523 polling stations in the capital. Authorities deployed close to 10,000 police officers and imposed a city-wide lockdown, restricting vehicle and pedestrian movement, as well as stopping flights into the city's main airport. Security in Somalia's capital has improved this year, but the government continues to battle the al-Qaeda-affiliated armed group al-Shabab, which carried out a major attack in October."

Mogadishu residents are voting in local council elections, the first direct polls in more than 50 years, despite opposition boycotts. About half a million people registered to vote for 390 district council seats, with roughly 1,605 candidates across 523 polling stations. Polls opened at 06:00 local time with early lines forming. Authorities deployed nearly 10,000 police, imposed a city-wide lockdown restricting movement, and halted flights into the main airport. Security has improved this year, but the government remains engaged against al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab. Somalia last held direct elections in 1969 before decades of military rule and subsequent clan-based indirect voting.

Read at www.aljazeera.com