Nairobi/Mogaishu  - Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed spoke in favour of using Islamic sharia law as the basis by which he will govern the Horn of Africa nation, local media reported Sunday.

The moderate Islamist leader who was elected president a month ago just hours during a parliamentary session held in neighbouring Djibouti said he was hoping that the introduction of shariah law would defuse the country's conflict with tribal militias.

At the same time, Sheikh Sharif announced that the government accepted a request for a ceasefire by the armed opposition.

"It is not a must that every opposition group use bullets," he said, adding that the opposition "must come to the negotiating table."

Somalia's transitional government, which is presently based in Djibouti, has to approve the introduction of Islamic law.

Parliament fled the former government seat of Baidoa after radical Islamic group al-Shabab conquered the town and introduced sharia law there as well as in other areas of the country. The group had announced that it would continue fighting after Sharif's election.

Somalia has not had a functional government since the 1991 ouster of former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. dpa