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Somalia polls: Roads, airport sealed off ahead of elections

by India Blooms News Service 08 Feb 2017, 08:29 am

Mogadishu, Feb 8 (IBNS): The Somali government has imposed a traffic ban and blocked several roads in the capital ahead of the presidential polls, media reports said.

At least 20 candidates, including incumbent Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, are contesting the polls, the BBC reported.

Following a round of polls, the top three candidates will advance into the second round.

The President will be elected from the top two candidates following a second round of polling.

The voting will take place at the Mogadishu airport, where MPs will exercise their rights.

The Airport is viewed as the safest place in whole of Somalia, amidst fear of attacks from the Al-Shabab militants.

Due to the elections, flights operations have also been cancelled in Mogadishu.

The poll results are expected to be out on Wednesday evening.