WELLINGTON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Marshall Islands parliament on Monday elected the speaker, Jurelang Zedkaia, as the Pacific island country's fifth president.

    The vote for Zedkaia was 17-15, giving him the bare one-vote minimum needed to win the presidency in the 33-seat parliament, Radio New Zealand International reported.

    Zedkaia defeated a former president, Kessai Note who was the only other nominee.

    The vote followed three days of tense and bitter debate over the vote of no confidence last Wednesday that ousted former President Iowa Tomeing.

    Zedkaia, like Tomeing, is a traditional chief, which was a key element in his election.

    Zedkaia, a paramount chief for the capital atoll of Majuro, has presided over the parliament since January 2008, and was a vice speaker in earlier administrations.

    Zedkaia, also a five-term senator, will form a cabinet

    The parliament will also elect a new speaker.