Somalia leaders approve constitution despite deadly twin suicide attack in Mogadishu

Somalian leaders approved a new constitution despite a deadly twin suicide attack on the Mogadishu venue where the vote was being held, blamed on Al Shabaab.

The constitution was adopted  Wednesday by a majority of 96 percent of representatives of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA), according to AllAfrica.com — or 621 for, 13 against, with  11 abstentions.

The assembly is chosen by traditional elders, and had deliberated over the proposed constitution — meant to pave the way for Aug. 2 elections for a new government, to restore stability to the war-wracked nation — for seven days.

"We are very happy today that you … responsibly completed the procedure by voting for the constitution," AllAfrica quoted Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali as saying.

Somalia's last functioning national government was ousted in 1991, the BBC reported, and the Al Qaeda linked Islamist group Al Shabaab now controls many areas.

Pirates and militant groups plan attacks on international targets from bases in Somalia, the BBC added.

BBC listed the most significant aspects of the new constitution as including:

• A bill of rights, with everyone declared to be equal, irrespective of clan or religion;
• That Islam is the only religion of the state, with no other religion permitted;
• That female genital mutilation is outlawed;
• That citizens have the right to be educated up to secondary level;
• That territorial disputes must be settled peacefully, a reference to conflicts with Kenya and Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, Reuters cited as official as saying that two suicide bombers in government uniform attacked the conference center where the vote took place.

One killed six security officers after breaching a wall, while the other was shot and killed outside the gate before he could detonate his bomb.

Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had had succeeded in killing Somali and African Union troops.

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