The Somali parliament held a special session on Friday (September 7th) to listen to the speeches of the country's presidential candidates.

Twenty-five qualified candidates will compete in the elections, all of whom have met the criteria set by the Electoral Commission.

The 25 presidential candidates are: Abdirahman Abdullahi Baadiyow, Abdiwaahid Elmi Goonjeh, Abdullahi Ahmed Addow, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo, Ahmed Ismail Samatar, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Sheikh

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Yusuf Garaad Omar, Omar Salaad Elmi, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdi Hashi, Bashir Nur Hassan, Haji Mohamed Ismail Yasin, Abdulqadir Osoble Ali, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, Hussein Khalif Jama, Mohamed Ahmed Salah, Salad Ali Jeele, Ibrahim Ali Hussein, Said Ise Mohamud, Osman Mohamed Gaal, Mohamed Abdullahi Omar, Mohamed Abdiweli Sheikh Yusuf, Maslah Mohamed Siad Barre, Zakariye Mohamud Haji Abdi.

Osman Libah Ibrahim, spokesman for the commission, told Sabahi that 10 of the candidates delivered campaign speeches in front of parliament. He said security, fighting corruption and sound governance dominated the candidates' speeches.

The remaining 15 candidates will give their speeches on Saturday, he said, adding that Sunday will be a quiet day in preparation for the elections.

The presidential elections are scheduled to take place on September 10th.

Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari vowed that the upcoming presidential elections will be free and fair, UN-funded Radio Bar-Kulan reported Friday (September 7th).

Jawari said that parliament has been busy preparing for the historic elections, and called on members of parliament to serve their country without accepting favours.

Source: SABAHI