Centenarian takes teenager as bride

London: Ahmad Mohammad Dhore says he has realised a "dream" by marrying a bride almost a century his junior.

He is old enough to be her great-great-grandfather. But Dhore, a Somalian who claims he is 112 years old, said he had realised a "dream" by marrying a 17-year-old bride.

Dhore who says he was born in 1897, already has 13 children by five wives, but said he would like more with his newest, Safiya Abdullah.

Hundreds of people attended the extraordinary ceremony this week in Guriceel, in the region of Galguduud.

"Today God helped me realise my dream," Dhore said.

He and his new wife are from the same village in Somalia, he said, adding that he had waited for her to grow up to propose.

Dhore says his children and two other wives agreed to the marriage, as did Abdullah's parents.

"I didn't force her, but used my experience to convince her of my love, and then we agreed to marry," the groom said.

The bride's family said she was "happy with her new husband".
 
Dhore has 114 children and grandchildren. His oldest son is 80.