Somali parliament approves cabinet after weeks of wrangling

Somalia Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke is seen during a ceremony in the capital Mogadishu, December 17, 2014. REUTERS/Omar Faruk

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somalia's parliament approved a 25-strong cabinet on Monday, a pivotal step towards preparing the war-torn nation for a vote on a new constitution and presidential elections in 2016.

Wrangling over the cabinet has prolonged a period of drift that donors say is hurting recovery efforts. After more than two decades of war and still battling an Islamist insurgency, Somalia remains dependent on Western and other donors.