US warns Somalia over elections

The US State Department has warned Somali leaders to adhere to the election timetable and avoid further delays, the BBC reported. The ministry said it would impose sanctions on officials, including visa restrictions, if elections were delayed. It warned Election Schedule country plans to make to the House of Representatives must be end on February 18, 2014. Somalia has set a new election date following days of talks between the prime minister and regional leaders in Mogadishu. Elections for the House of Representatives were scheduled to begin in November and end in mid-December, but were delayed due to delays.In other news related to Somalia, VOA reports that a bomb blast near the airport in Mogadishu has killed several people. At least nine people were killed in the attack. The perpetrator was identified as Al-Shabaab.