Somalia government postpones vote to 2012 amid security crisis

Somalia's UN-backed government said on Sunday it planned to postpone elections to next year, saying it had to tackle insecurity first, further deepening its dispute with parliament.
A 2009 deal envisioned the mandate of the Somali government and parliament would expire on Aug. 20 this year, by which time they were supposed to have enacted a new constitution and held elections. In March the transitional cabinet extended its term by a further year saying it wanted to ensure continuity in its fight against insurgents, joining the parliament in lengthening its mandate.
"The cabinet ministers have underlined that election is impossible because of insecurity," a cabinet statement said. "This decision strengthens our previous decision that elections should be postponed by one year. This is to ensure that ongoing security and political developments (are completed)." The UN has called for elections to be held to bring an end to the transitional phase, but it is unclear how such a vote could take place in the war-torn country.