Somaliland postpones presidential poll

The self-declared republic of Somaliland has postponed presidential elections from January to March, according to a senior official.

Mahmud Jama Warfa, the Somaliland deputy information minister, said the move was taken after the independent electoral commission decided more time was needed to have everything in place for smooth elections.

The commission said it needed time to - among other issues - deliver electoral materials to the various polling stations, train polls officials properly and deal with budget issues, Warfa told IRIN on Wednesday.

He also noted that some political parties had requested a postponement. The House of Elders, which has the final say on the matter, "will most likely approve the new date", he stressed.

Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 after the downfall of the former leader, Muhammad Siyad Barre. It has remained relatively free from the chaos and war that has ravaged other parts of Somalia. The region held successful local elections last month.

Warfa said the presidential poll would be followed by parliamentary elections. "The parliamentary elections will probably take place sometime in May of this year," he told IRIN.