Somali parliament approves new prime minister

Somali lawmakers Saturday overwhelmingly endorsed Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed who was appointed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud last week.

Ahmed replaces outgoing premier Abdi Farah Shirdon, who was ousted last month by parliament following a rift with the Somali president over policy differences, Xinhua reported.

Somali Parliament Speakers Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari announced the result of the vote by show of hand to endorse the new prime minister.

Out of the 243 lawmakers present, 239 voted in favour of the nomination of Abdiweli as prime minister.

The new prime minister thanked lawmakers and promised to form "a competent cabinet to carry the country forward". "I must solute the central and the important role of our Parliament, and today I want to assure for the House and the Somali people that I will form capable government to move this country forward and to a better future," he said.

The new prime minister pledged his government will honour international agreements signed by the country, vowing to strengthen relations with the international community, particularly "with neighbouring states".