KULMIYE KEEPS THE GOVERNMENT GUESSING

London, 06 April 2009 (Somaliland Today)- Somaliland's leading opposition party, KULMIYE, kept the government guessing about plans to stage nationwide mass protests against the resolution passed by the House of Elders a week ago Saturday in which president Rayale's term of office was extended from 6 April to 29 December 2009.

KULMIYE believes that the Elders acted illegally by extending the president's term of office through unconstitutional means and without consulting the opposition parties.

The chairman of KULMIYE, Ahmed Mohamoud Silanyo, said they would not recognise Dahir Riyale as president with effect from 7 April 2009.

KULMIYE's rejection to recognise the Elders' resolution has clearly scratched a raw nerve in government circles.

KULMIYE keeps the government guessing as to what it will do after 7 April.

The government says any mass protests against the Elders' resolution will be considered a direct threat to country's national security and will be treated as such. The opposition says it is pursuing its constitutional right to stage peaceful mass protests against the illegal resolution that has no constitutional basis.

Riyale was elected for a five-year term on 14th April 2003, which ended April last year. He was given a one-year extension, which will end on 6th April 2009.

The president's term extensions followed the National Electoral Commission's postponement of the presidential elections three times in the past for various reasons.

Somaliland Today
Newsdesk.