20100529
press tv

Somali lawmakers have elected former Finance Minister Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden as the new head of parliament after the former speaker was forced to resign.

Sharif Hassan, who also served as deputy prime minister, garnered 217 out of 380 votes cast by Somali MPs in the election held on Friday.

"A total of 380 votes were cast and Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan got 217 votes, compared to his nearest rival, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi who got 143," acting speaker Haji Shugri Sheik Ahmed said after the vote count.

The new speaker called on the country's lawmakers to unite and end political instability in the violence-torn country.

"I would like you (lawmakers) to forget about the past differences and work on unity so as to overcome the current political situation the country is facing," Sharif Hassan said.

The new speaker replaced Sheikh Adan Mohammad Nur Madobe who resigned last week after three years of tenure due to increasing pressure from lawmakers.

The pressure came after Sheikh Adan accused Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke for the country's woes, raising the ire of parliamentarians.

The horn of Africa country has been without an effective central government since 1991.