Somaliland MPs urge president to re-consider election

Somaliland MPs urge president to re-consider election

HARGEISA,  - Lawmakers of Somaliland voted on Tuesday to urge President Dahir Riyale and the Somaliland election commission to re-consider the upcoming election, Radio Garowe reports.

Last month, the election commission voted to hold the presidential election on September 27 without using the voter-registration data, which many believe is flawed.

President Riyale accepted the election commission's decision and said the presidential election will be "held on time" without completion of the voter-registration process, a move that angered opposition parties.

But on Tuesday, Somaliland's 82-seat lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives, voted and issued a four-point declaration.

Firstly, the lawmakers said the decision to hold the election without voter data is "illegal." Second, the House of Representatives urged President Riyale and the election commission to "immediately re-consider" the decision to hold elections without voter data.

Thirdly, the House of Representatives threaten to take "appropriate constitutional measures" if the President and the election commission reject this proposal.

And fourthly, the Somaliland MPs called on President Riyale's administration to "avoid" anything that could hurt Somaliland's international image.

This cements the position of opposition parties who earlier denounced governments expulsion of Interpeace, a position shared by international community represented by donor states of European Union and United States. A high level delegation is due to arrive Somaliland later today 12/08/09....