FORMER PRESIDENT OSMAN TAKING THE OATH AS A LIFE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY; NEW PRESIDENT DR. ALI SHERMARKE WITH THE COUNTRY'S PRIME MINISTER HAJI HUSSEIN AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA; AND THE PARADE THROUGH THE CAPITAL.




Initials JM/VS/CCT/BB



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Background: SOMALIA ENTERS ITS SEVENTH YEAR AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE WITH A NEW PRESIDENT -- ABDIRASHID ALI SHERMARKE WHO WAS SWORN IN ON SATURDAY 1ST JULY. AT THE SAME TIME OUTGOING PRESIDENT ADEN ABDULLA OSMAN WAS SWORN IN AS A LIFE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. THE INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS WERE DOMINATED BY A MASSIVE PARADE WITH CONTINGENTS OF THE COUNTRY'S ARMED FORCES, STUDENTS AND YOUTH GROUPS TAKING PART.

PRESIDENT SHERMARKE FACES A SIX YEAR TERM OF OFFICE. IN HIS FIRST SPEECH TO THE NATION HE SAID THAT SOMALIA MUST CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF NEIGHBOURING FRENCH SOMALILAND. HE STATED THAT SOMALIA WOULD NEVER ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEW NAME GIVEN TO THIS FRENCH OVERSEAS TERRITORY -- THE FRENCH TERRITORY OF THE AFARS AND THE ISSAS.

FORMER PRESIDENT OSMAN HAS SAID THE PEOPLE OF SOMALIA SHOULD FORGET THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN IN THE RECENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THE COUNTRY. HE SAID HE WAS COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH BEING DEPOSED BY LEGAL MEANS AFTER SEVEN YEARS IN OFFICE, AND APPEALED TO THE NATION TO WORK WITH THE NEW PRESIDENT AND PRESERVE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS "RARE ON THIS CONTINENT".

SOMALIA'S LATEST ARMAMENTS, INCLUDING MIG FIGHTERS WERE ON DISPLAY DURING THE PARADE, AT WHICH THE NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT TOOK THE SALUTE.