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Somali Leaders Agree to End Transitional Gov't By August 2012


Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, Puntland President, Abdurrahman Farole, middle, and Somalia Parliament Speaker, Sharif Hassan Sheik Adenduring , right, during the opening ceremony of the high level Consultative Meeting on Ending the Transition
Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, Puntland President, Abdurrahman Farole, middle, and Somalia Parliament Speaker, Sharif Hassan Sheik Adenduring , right, during the opening ceremony of the high level Consultative Meeting on Ending the Transition

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.

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