Somaliland votes for its leader
HARGEISA, 14 APRIL 2003 (BBC)--People in in the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland have been voting, hoping the election could boost its attempts to secure international recognition.
Almost one million voters were expected to cast their ballots by the time polls closed at 1500GMT, in their first multi-party presidential election.

The current leader of Somaliland, Dahir Riyaale Kahin, is being challenged by candidates from two opposition parties.

Mr Kahin took office last year, following the death of the long-standing leader of the breakaway republic, Mohamed Egal, in May.