Ethiopia MPs chooses president, 76

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Reuters) -- Ethiopia's parliament elected 76-year-old Girma Wolde Giorgise to the largely figurehead post of president, after his predecessor's six-year term expired.

Girma, an independent member of parliament, served as president of the lower house of parliament under the government of former Emperor Haile Selassie, who was ousted by Marxist military officers in 1974.

The previous president Negaso Gidada quit the country's ruling coalition in June after an apparent dispute with the country's most powerful leader, prime minister Meles Zenawi.

But Negaso stayed on as president until the expiry of his term.

Parliament is expected to re-elect Meles as prime minister on Tuesday for another five-year term.