Somalia names a new prime minister

Somalia's president has appointed a new prime minister, a businessman who worked as a government economist in the 1980s.

Abdi Farah Shirdon was named prime minister.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said he appointed Mr Shirdon in part because of his academic background.

Mr Shirdon said he would form a "quality" Cabinet that will not tolerate corruption. He said the government he forms will move past the disputes Somali political leaders have engaged in previously.

Mr Shirdon studied economics at Somalia National University in the 1970s. He served as an economist in the ministries of finance and agriculture in the 1980s. Mr Shirdon is married to a Somali member of parliament.

Mr Shirdon left Somalia in 1991, when the last fully functioning government collapsed. He relocated to Kenya.

AP