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BBC.Wednesday, 5 September, 2001, 14:26 GMT 15:26 UK Somalia has in effect been without a central government since 1991 when President Siad Barre was overthrown. Instead, warlords supported by heavily armed militias have ruled the areas under their control. The resulting inter-militia fighting and inability to deal with famine and disease have led to the death of up to one million people. OVERVIEW Comprised of a former British protectorate and an Italian colony, Somalia was created in 1960 when the two territories merged. Since then, its development has been hindered by territorial claims on Somali-inhabited areas of Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti. In 1970 Barre proclaimed a socialist state, paving the way for close relations with the USSR. In 1977, with the help of Soviet arms, Somalia attempted to seize the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, but was defeated thanks to Soviet and Cuban backing for Ethiopia, which had turned Marxist. In 1991 Barre was overthrown by opposing clans. But they failed to agree on a replacement and plunged the country into lawlessness and clan warfare. This raised the spectre of disintegration as the former British protectorate of Somaliland declared unilateral independence. By August 2000 a solution seemed in sight after clan elders and other senior figures appointed Abdulkassim Salat Hassan president at a conference in Djibouti. A new government was announced in October. However, these have yet to overcome resistance from some warlords and from the breakaway Somaliland. FACTS
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