Somalia has been without functioning government for 18 years, but is hoping to re-establish rule of law under recently-named President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

VOA: standard.2009.04.05

In a deal backed by the United Nations, a moderate leader of the Islamic Courts Union, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, was elected president of the Mogadishu-based Somali government earlier this year.

VOA: standard.2009.09.16

Somalia's new president,Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, a moderate Islamist and a former insurgent leader, is attempting to establish government control in the country and to gain the support of Islamist insurgents.

VOA: standard.2009.03.16

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was head of the Executive Council of the Islamic Courts Union.

NPR: Leading Member of Islamic Courts Held in Kenya

Mr Ghedi called for Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed to be handed over to the Somali government.

BBC: NEWS | Africa | Ethiopia starts Somalia pull-out

In a first round of voting, in which 22 candidates competed, Mr Hassan came second to the incumbent, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, but prevailed over him easily with 190 votes to 79 in a run-off.

ECONOMIST: Somalia��s new president