MOGADISHU (Sunatimes) The speaker of the parliament in Somalia has said on Sunday the new country’s prime minister won the backing of the lawmakers – as fighting continues near by the parliament house between the African Union peacekeepers and the rebel Islamic militant groups.

Sharif Hassan Sheik Aden told reporters that the new premier Mohamed Abdulahi was approved by the parliament as 92 of 297 MPs voted in favor of him by show of hands.

Soon after the parliament approval, Mr. Mohamed, the Somali-American, who used to work as a regional civil rights manager for the New York State Department of Transportation, said he will suddenly move towards forming an effective and loyal cabinet to serve for the people’s interests.

The endorsement came following weeks of stalemate resulted from a very controversial book written by the appointed prime minister in which he was alleged to defame some of the Mogadishu’s dominant clans.

According to aides, the prime minister will go under the oath of the office and then form his cabinet within three weeks.

Meanwhile, militants of the Al-Qaeda linked groups of Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam launched attacks on bases of the outside peacekeepers on parts of the Maka Al-Mukarama road in southern Mogadishu where heavy weapons have been exchanged.

No casualties were reported so far but witnesses said the war seems to be heavier and spread into new areas as the African Union troops firing artillery rounds into remote districts which might cause civilian loss.