Tongan parliament elects Prime Minister for first time

Noble Lord Tu'ivakano defeated pro-democracy leader Akalisi Pohiva in a secret ballot among Tongan MPs Tuesday to become the country's first Prime Minister elected by parliament rather than appointed by the king.

Mr Tu'ivakano, a former speaker of parliament, won 14 votes and Mr Pohiva 12 in the ballot among the 26 members of the Tongan house of representatives.