Arab League, Egypt welcomes Somali new president

CAIRO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) — The Cairo-based Arab League (AL) on Saturday voiced its congratulation and welcome to the election of Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the Islamist opposition leader, as Somalia’s new president.

The AL said in a statement that the election of the new president is an important step that is helpful for Somali reconciliation and reconstruction.

Describing the presidential election as “transparent and fair,” the pan-Arab body said it’s ready to offer all assistance to the Somali people for the country’s peace and stability.

Egypt also welcomed the election of the moderate Islamist leader as the new president of Somalia.

In a statement, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit expressed his congratulation to the Somali people, hoping that the country would reach a comprehensive national reconciliation.

Moderate Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed won the Somali presidency in a parliamentary vote in Djibouti early Saturday, paving the way for a national unity government for the war-torn Horn of Africa nation.

Sheikh Sharif, who heads the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, garnered the majority of votes just before 4:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) during a run-off vote in a parliament session.

In his mid-40s, Sheikh Sharif was also chairman of the Islamic Courts Union that drove warlords from Mogadishu and has run the capital for six months in 2006.

Source: Xinhua

Published by: Qalinle Hussein

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