RAMALLAH, Feb. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Aziz Duweik, a Hamas MP, was named PLC Speaker at the first session of the newly elected parliament on Saturday.

    Abdel Aziz Duweik, 57, was elected as the new speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) with 70 votes.

    The ballot came after President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a speech before the 132-seat parliament, a majority of them Hamas members.

    Two deputies and a secretary are also expected to be elected at the session.

    Hamas won the Jan. 25 parliamentary elections by garnering 74 seats in the parliament and has been asked by Abbas to form the next cabinet. Enditem