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MOGADISHU, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's Lower House on Thursday concluded its Speakers elections with emergence of new first and second deputies.
Labor minister Abdiweli Ibrahim Mudey, once a deputy Speaker in the transitional government, garnered 161 votes to emerge as first deputy, trouncing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's close ally Farah Abdulkadir who came second with 93 votes.
Meanwhile, Mahad Abdalla Awad was elected second deputy Speaker with 170 votes.
The exercise which started with the election of House Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari on Wednesday happened amid lockdown in Mogadishu for the second day.
Both Somali security agencies and African Union forces manned key roads in the city.
The conclusion of the Lower House elections of Speakers now sets the pace for election of speakers for the Senate.
Upon the complete composition of both Houses, the joint Speakers will declare a date for election of the president. Some 259 members of the Lower House participated in the exercise. Enditem
