Somali lawmakers approves Shariah law

MOGADISHU, Somalia, April 18 (UPI) -- Somalia's transitional parliament Saturday approved the introduction of Islamic Shariah law, lawmakers in Mogadishu said.

The unanimous approval will strengthen new President Sharif Ahmed's efforts to defeat Islamic hard-liners, said Osman Elmi Boqore, deputy speaker of the Somali parliament,

"Calling us anti-Islamic lawmakers is now over," Boqore said.

Shariah law, the legal code of Islam, is roughly comparable to the Talmudic tradition in Judaism and governs many aspects of daily life for Muslims, including politics, economics, banking, business, contracts, family, sexuality, hygiene, and social issues, he said.

Saturday's vote came amid increasing tension in Mogadishu caused by recent killings of key supporters of Ahmed's government, CNN reported.