6 Jan 2012

Punch-up in parliament

5:39 am on 6 January 2012

There has been a punch-up in parliament in Somalia after the election of a new speaker.

Madobe Nunow was voted in but President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed

immediately denounced the appointment.

The fight on Wednesday evening was started by supporters of former speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, who was voted out last month.

His allies did not want a vote for a new speaker to be held.

The BBC reports the president maintains that Mr Adan still has the job because MPs do not have the power to make such decisions.