Somali lawmakers have sworn in moderate Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as the country's new president.
Duringa runoff vote early Saturday in Djibouti, President Sharif received 293votes by secret ballot. He replaces former president Abdullahi YusufAhmed, who resigned in December following months of politicalinfighting.
President Sharif defeated the son of formerPresident Mohamed Siad Barre, who got 126 votes. Another rival, SomaliPrime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, dropped out of the race after thethird round of balloting.
The lawmakers met in Djibouti because of the instability in Somalia.
President Sharif was expected to fly immediately to Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, to attend the African union Summit.
His win marks a major boost in efforts to create an inclusive government in Somalia.
Lawmakershad voted earlier this week to double the size of the parliament toinclude Mr. Sharif's moderate Islamist party - Islamist Alliance forthe Re-Liberation of Somalia, or ARS.
President Sharif hadpreviously headed the Islamic Courts Union, which briefly controlledmuch of Somalia in 2006. Last year, he signed a peace agreement withthe government.
However, hardline Islamists did not acceptthat peace deal, and insurgents continue to fight for more territoryacross the country. Somalia's government now controls only parts ofthe capital, Mogadishu, with the help of several thousand African Uniontroops.
Somalia has not had an effective central government since hardline ruler Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991.