HARGEISA, Somalia Apr 2 (Garowe Online) - The government in Somalia's separatist republic of Somaliland has responded strongly to opposition criticism, warning that the government "will not accept threats" from the opposition, Radio Garowe reports.

A statement issued by Somaliland's leading opposition party, Kulmiye, expressed the party's opposition to a decision by the House of Guurti, the upper house of parliament, which granted the administration of President Dahir Riyale a six-month extension period to lead the region until presidential elections later this year.

"The Kulmiye Party sees the March 28, 2009, decision by the House of Guurti which extended the President's term by six months as a violation of the law and the constitution," the statement read, adding that legitimate constitutional excuses for an extension such as "threats to national security are non-existent."

The statement went on to say that the House of Guurti "does not have the constitutional right" to establish election dates, arguing that it is the sole duty of the Somaliland election commission.

Further, the Kulmiye party's political statement indicated that the proposal of the lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives, was not respected.

"There was no respect for the elected House of Representatives' decision that if the election is not held within the one-year term extension period [starting May 2008], then the two lawmaking bodies [houses of parliament] convene for a joint session and reach a single decision," the statement read.

Therefore, the statement went on, "the Kulmiye Party will not recognize Dahir Riyale and his deputy [Vice President Ahmed Yusuf Yasin] as legitimate after April 6, 2009."

The opposition party warned strongly against the government's misuse of public institutions, including state-run media, public funds, and the security forces.

Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo, the Kulmiye party chairman, is the leading opposition figure in Somaliland's presidential election. In 2003, he lost by less than 90 votes to incumbent President Riyale.

Government response

Somaliland's presidential office has issued a counter-statement, specifically responding to the Kulmiye party's political position.

"At first, we will say that the words from him [Silanyo] and his party [Kulmiye] are a naked violation of the law and constitution of Somaliland...which state that the President and the Vice President can [only] be replaced by a new elected President," the presidency's statement read.

Citing a constitutional clause, the statement defended the House of Guurti's "right" to extend President Riyale's term in office "until there are elections."

"The Chairman of Kulmiye Party [Silanyo] previously declared that he is confident with the decisions of the House of Guurti, which is a constitutional body, yet he opposes the House of Guurti's vote to ratify a term extension for the President and the Vice President," read the Somaliland government's response.

Further, the statement accused the Kulmiye party of "not respecting the constitution," while advising the opposition to "believe and uphold the consitution and the law if one wishes to lead the country [Somaliland]."

Lastly, the government's response warned that "no one will be accepted to threaten the constitution."

Somaliland's political crisis has entered a new period, as the government and the opposition have been further divided by the House of Guurti's controversial vote to delay the presidential election for the second time in two years.

The House of Guurti, which is an unelected lawmaking body mandated with far-reaching constitutional powers, received a four-year term extension in 2007 supported by President Riyale.

By comparison, the 82-seat House of Representatives was elected in a public vote but has been denied a role in the ongoing political crisis.

Located in northwestern Somalia, Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from the rest of the country in 1991 but has not been recognized internationally.

Source: Garowe Online