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London, 27 March 2009 (Somaliland Today)- A vicious fistfight erupted in the upper chamber of Somaliland's parliament on Wednesday, as Abdirahman Qawdhan who is opposed to an extension of president Rayale's term of office landed a series of punches on Mr. Dheg who is an avid backer of the president.
The scuffles broke out when the chairman of the upper chamber of the parliament, Suleiman Mohamoud Aden, began to read out a letter submitted by president Rayale to the parliament in which he requested for an extension of his term of office, which expires on 6th April, as well as the approval of the date set by the National Electoral Commission for presidential election- 31st May 2009.
While Mr. Qawdhan was embroiled in a vicious brawl with Mr. Dheg, another lawmaker, Mr. Said Yasir, who is also believed to be an ardent supporter of Rayale, jumped on Mr.Qawdhan and involved himself in nasty punch-ups and pushing.
Yasir later said, according to HAATUF, that he was 'only trying to intervene and prevent from further fighting'- an explanation rejected by Mr. Qawdhan as misleading.
President Rayale was elected on 14 April 2003 for five years, which ended on 14 April 2008. However, he failed to hold the presidential election at the scheduled date because the European Union insisted on voter registration in Somaliland before conducting any election. As a result, Rayale was granted a one-year extension of term of office ending 6 April 2009. However, he is still unable to hold the presidential election because of 'bureaucratic and logistical' reasons cited by the National Electoral Commission- an agency described by many as a pliant body that takes its orders from the president.
There is serious disagreement in the upper chamber of the parliament between those who want to have the president's term of office extended and those who adamantly oppose it like Mr. Qawdhan.
In another development, Ibrahim Jama Ali (Rayte), a lawmaker from the lower chamber of the parliament was involved in punch- up with Mohamed Muse Diriye, head of the Somaliland government's TV.
Meanwhile, the nation holds its breath to wait and see what resolution members of the upper chamber of the parliament reaches in the days to come.
Somaliland Today
News desk.
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