Somali parliament elects new speaker

Former Defense Minister and Ambassador to Turkey Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdirahman takes parliament's top post

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Somali lawmakers on Monday elected Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdirahman the new speaker of parliament in the capital Mogadishu.

Mursal won in the second round of voting with 147 votes, beating his closest competitor Ibrahim Isack Yerow with 118 votes, according to the deputy speaker, who announced the results of the balloting.

"I am very happy to be elected speaker of the National House of the People. I will work to lead the house according to our constitution," Mursal said at Parliament after his victory.

"This shows that our democracy in the country is growing and I will work for the elected speaker of parliament " said Yerow.

The election was held after Mohamed Osman Jawari resigned as parliament speaker on April 10 after facing a no-confidence motion.

Mursal is a former defense minister and Somali ambassador to Turkey.

Kaynak: