JMP's candidate, Faisal bin Shamlan, is a liberal-leaning southerner, the bulk of its strength comes from the Islah or Reform Party.

ECONOMIST: The big surprise is that this was a real live election

" And in a recording last February, bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, devoted the bulk of his message to praising al Shabab in Somalia, calling their recent activities "a step on the path of the victory of Islam.

WSJ: Somali Extremists Have al Qaeda Ties