HARGEISA, Somalia Feb 23 (Garowe Online) - The election date in Somalia's separatist republic of Somaliland has been postponed by the election commission on Monday, Radio Garowe reports.

Mr. Jama Mohamed "Sweden," the election commission chairman, addressed Somaliland's lower house of parliament - the House of Representatives - at parliament hall in Hargeisa, the regional capital.

The parliament meeting was chaired by Mr. Abdiaziz Mohamed Samale, the deputy Speaker, and was attended by most members of the 82-seat parliament.

Mr. Sweden said donor nations have pressured the election commission to set a firm date for the election, which was scheduled to be held on March 29.

But the election commission chairman said the voter-registration process needs more time, adding that the commission successfully completed a phase of the project.

MP Ahmed Du'ale Bulale posed a question regarding what happens if the election date is postponed.

The election commission's deputy chairman, Mr. Ali Mohamed Bikalo, responded: "A clause in the previous agreement stated that a joint decision must be reached among the election commission and the political parties."

That agreement was signed last year after Somaliland President Dahir Riyale unconstitutionally extended his term by one year.

Somaliland is located in northwestern Somalia and unilaterally declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991. The breakaway region has not been recognized internationally.

Source: Garowe Online