Somalia votes to cancel 2-year presidential term extension

Somalia's lower house of parliament voted unanimously on Saturday to cancel a controversial; two-year presidential term extension it approved last month; a move that might defuse an armed stand-off in the capital Mogadishu.

The vote broadcast was on Somali television and came shortly; after President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed addressed parliament and said he was directing his Prime Minister in order to spearhead preparations for the election.