Somaliland incumbent president wins elections: electoral commission
MOGADISHU, 19 APRIL 2003 (Xinhuanet) -- The electoral commission of Somaliland announced Saturday that the ruling Udub party led by incumbent President Dahir Riyaleh Kahin has won the presidential elections held on April 14 in the breakaway republic.

Kahin got 205,595 votes, a slight majority against the opponent Kulmiye party, led by Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo, which obtained 205,515 votes. The third party, U' id, got 77,433 votes.

And in percent wise, the victor, the Udub party, got 42,08%, while Kulmiye has got 42.07%, the electoral commission announced.

This means Kahin may remain in office in the next five years, while his deputy chairman in his party, Ahmed Yusuf Yasin, may become vice president.

Faysal Ali Warabeh, leader of U'id, told a press conference that he will collaborate with the new president, Kahin, and his administration, but it is not known yet whether Silanyo, leader ofKulmiye, will accept the results.

The electoral commission said the results are preliminary and the official results will be announced by the supreme constitutional court in 10 days.

"Usually, there comes no difference between the electoral commission and the court, but this is just a judicial procedure," said Ahmed Haji Ali Adami, chairman of the electoral commission. MORE