Nairobi  - Somalia's parliament on Saturday overwhelmingly approved the son of an assassinated former president as the country's new prime minister.

President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Friday appointed Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke to the prime minister position as Sheikh Sharif continues to drive for peace and stability in his war-torn country. Sheikh Sharif was only elected last month.

Some 414 lawmakers backed the new man, with nine opposed, the UN's political office in Somalia said.

Sharmarke, 48, has joint Somali-Canadian nationality and is a member of the Darod clan, ensuring the president, prime minister and parliamentary speaker are all from different clans, as specified in Somalia's transitional charter.

Sharmarke's father was assassinated in 1969 after three years in power.

The new premier promised to promote reconciliation and end political infighting, which blighted the last government and helped al-Shabaab, a main insurgent group, tighten its hold on much of south and central Somalia.

Sheik Sharif's biggest challenge is bringing al-Shabaab into the peace process.

The insurgents have been fighting since Ethiopian forces invaded in late 2006 to help kick out the ruling Islamic Courts' Union (ICU), which was headed up by Sheik Sharif.

Over 15,000 civilians have died and over a million have fled the insurgency.

Ethiopia quit Somalia earlier this year, but al-Shabaab says it will continue fighting and accuses Sheik Sharif of selling out to the West.

However, Sheik Sharif is expected to rule based on Islamic law, something analysts say could undermine al-Shabaab's claim that only through force of arms can an Islamist regime come to power.

Sharmarke is viewed as being someone who, having lived outside of Somalia for most of his life, can bring fresh ideas and help reconnect with the Somali diaspora.

Diaspora support is seen a crucial in helping rebuild a country destroyed by the 19 years of fighting that followed the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. (dpa)