Armed Somali police officers walk in capital Mogadishu, Feb. 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei)

MOGADISHU, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A long-awaited presidential election is underway Wednesday as Somali security forces imposed a security lockdown under the threat of terrorist attack.

A ban on flights arriving and departing from Mogadishu airport is in force while all major roads in Mogadishu are closed for two days till the conclusion of the ballot.

The Horn of Africa nation has been under near daily attacks from the Al-Shabaab terror group, which has vowed to disrupt the polls.

Somali Parliament will elect a new president from 22 candidates. Enditem