International leaders, including British Prime Minister David Cameron, have hailed the election of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as a “great step forward” for Somalia.

International leaders, including British Prime Minister David Cameron, have hailed the election of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as a “great step forward” for Somalia.

Mr Cameron congratulated Mr Mohamud on his victory and welcomed the role played by his predecessor, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

However, Islamist militants said the election was organised by the “enemies of Somalia”. Somalia has suffered 20 years of war.

Accepting his defeat, former President Ahmed said it was the first fair election in Mogadishu for 42 years – since Mohamed Siad Barre took over in 1969.

President Mohamud, a moderate Islamist academic, was sworn in immediately after it was announced that he had beaten Mr Ahmed by 190 to 79 votes in a ballot of newly elected MPs.