Somali parliament approves ex-leader’s son as PM

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) – The U.N says Somali legislators have overwhelmingly approved the son of a former leader as the country’s new prime minister.

The U.N. political office on Somalia says 414 legislators approved the presidential appointment of Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke with nine opposed during a meeting Saturday in neighboring Djibouti. Sharmarke’s father was a popular elected president who was assassinated in 1969.

Somalia’s Western-backed government wields little control. An Islamic insurgent group called al-Shabab has taken over most of Somalia and forced parliament to meet outside the country. Al-Shabab does not recognize the government.

Officials hope Sharmarke can end months of government infighting that broke out as al-Shabab extended its control over the country.