Somalis celebrate election of Islamist president

MOGADISHU, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Somali women danced in the streets and anti-aircraft missiles were blasted into the air on Saturday to celebrate the election of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed as president. The moderate Islamist leader won the presidency in an all-night parliament session in neighbouring Djibouti on Saturday and vowed to end conflict in the Horn of Africa nation, make peace with neighbours and rule with honesty and justice.
"We are supporting our newly elected president of Somalia, because he is a peaceful man we expect him to practice our religion. We love him and that is why we are supporting to him," Ali Hashi Hirsi said. Thousands of supporters converged in the capital Mogadishu's war-battered stadium chanting "long live Sheikh Sharif". In Mogadishu and some central parts of the country, not under the control of Islamist militants, people stayed up all night to watch television or listen to the radio.more..http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LV228030.htm