Impressive new breeze in war reporting
THE SCOTSMAN, 19 APRIL 2003--AMID rockets’ bright glare, shells bursting in air, we knew from our screens that Rageh Omaar, the BBC’s Baghdad man was still there, unruffled by the fog and explosive impact of war.
While I believe war reporting lost an authoritative voice when Kate Adie, that booming Boadi-cea of the BBC’s battlefront reporting, was dropped in favour of, she claimed, younger and sexier front-line correspondents, I welcome a new, youthful-looking, impeccably-accented and incisively-delivering reporter to the front-line, mass-information echelons.
That he is Somali-born did not surprise me, a sun-dried, fly-stung, camel-bitten veteran of Somaliland’s deserts, because he seemed an older version of Yusev, a Somali lad, aged about six summers, who was gainfully employed as a punkah boy at British Army HQ, Hargeisa, when I was there in 1945-46, and resembled a cherub blowing wind in an old map. MORE
Saturday, April 19, 2003
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
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
Somaliland President Wins Election by a Whisker
HARGEISA, 19 APRIL 2003(Reuters) - Somaliland's President Dahir Riyale Kahin was declared winner on Saturday of the first multi-party presidential elections in Somalia's breakaway enclave, beating his closest rival by just 80 votes.
The enclave's National Electoral Commission said Kahin received 205,595 votes, 42.08 percent of the those cast, against 205,515 votes, 42.07 percent of the total, for his main challenger, Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo.
"It's a historic success," Kahin told Reuters. "I thank the people not only for their vote, but also for holding it peacefully.
"My government will give priority to development and will seek (international) recognition."
HARGEISA, 19 APRIL 2003(Reuters) - Somaliland's President Dahir Riyale Kahin was declared winner on Saturday of the first multi-party presidential elections in Somalia's breakaway enclave, beating his closest rival by just 80 votes.
The enclave's National Electoral Commission said Kahin received 205,595 votes, 42.08 percent of the those cast, against 205,515 votes, 42.07 percent of the total, for his main challenger, Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo.
"It's a historic success," Kahin told Reuters. "I thank the people not only for their vote, but also for holding it peacefully.
"My government will give priority to development and will seek (international) recognition."
Friday, April 18, 2003
SOMALIA: Human rights should be "at forefront" of peace talks - Amnesty
NAIROBI, 17 APRIL 2003 (AI)- The London-based rights group Amnesty International (AI) has called for human rights to be at forefront of discussions at the Somali peace conference now being held in Kenya.
In a statement issued this week, AI said a new interim government was likely to emerge from the talks within few months if obstacles to an agreement could be overcome. For that reason, "strong international support for human rights reconstruction is now needed more than ever".
The statement said that despite the Somali parties having signed a ceasefire agreement on 27 October 2002, there had been numerous violations, with many crimes going unpunished due to the absence of "a system of justice and policing". MORE
NAIROBI, 17 APRIL 2003 (AI)- The London-based rights group Amnesty International (AI) has called for human rights to be at forefront of discussions at the Somali peace conference now being held in Kenya.
In a statement issued this week, AI said a new interim government was likely to emerge from the talks within few months if obstacles to an agreement could be overcome. For that reason, "strong international support for human rights reconstruction is now needed more than ever".
The statement said that despite the Somali parties having signed a ceasefire agreement on 27 October 2002, there had been numerous violations, with many crimes going unpunished due to the absence of "a system of justice and policing". MORE
Thursday, April 17, 2003
SOMALIA: Human rights should be "at forefront" of peace talks - Amnesty
NAIROBI, 17 Apr 2003 (IRIN) - The London-based rights group Amnesty International (AI) has called for human rights to be at forefront of discussions at the Somali peace conference now being held in Kenya.
In a statement issued this week, AI said a new interim government was likely to emerge from the talks within few months if obstacles to an agreement could be overcome. For that reason, "strong international support for human rights reconstruction is now needed more than ever".
The statement said that despite the Somali parties having signed a ceasefire agreement on 27 October 2002, there had been numerous violations, with many crimes going unpunished due to the absence of "a system of justice and policing".
NAIROBI, 17 Apr 2003 (IRIN) - The London-based rights group Amnesty International (AI) has called for human rights to be at forefront of discussions at the Somali peace conference now being held in Kenya.
In a statement issued this week, AI said a new interim government was likely to emerge from the talks within few months if obstacles to an agreement could be overcome. For that reason, "strong international support for human rights reconstruction is now needed more than ever".
The statement said that despite the Somali parties having signed a ceasefire agreement on 27 October 2002, there had been numerous violations, with many crimes going unpunished due to the absence of "a system of justice and policing".
SOMALIA: Interview with UN Representative Maxwell Gaylard
NAIROBI, 17 APRIL 2003 (IRIN) - Maxwell Gaylard is the UN Resident Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia. He recently visited Mogadishu with high level representatives of other UN agencies to assess the humanitarian and security situation there. Here, he tells IRIN about the UN's work in the city and his meetings with the Transitional National Government (TNG), faction leaders and civil society. MORE
NAIROBI, 17 APRIL 2003 (IRIN) - Maxwell Gaylard is the UN Resident Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia. He recently visited Mogadishu with high level representatives of other UN agencies to assess the humanitarian and security situation there. Here, he tells IRIN about the UN's work in the city and his meetings with the Transitional National Government (TNG), faction leaders and civil society. MORE
Somaliland poll 'transparent'
HARGEISA, 17 APRIL 2003 - South Africa's team monitoring Monday's presidential elections in northwest Somalia's breakaway republic of Somaliland has said the voting process was peaceful, orderly and transparent.
"Although technical difficulties were experienced by some polling stations visited, generally polling stations opened on time and voting got underway as planned and voters were enthusiastic and came out in large numbers, especially women, to cast their ballots," the team said.
"Overall, the voting process was peaceful, orderly and transparent," the team said in a statement released here on Wednesday.
"The counting of ballot papers was also rigorously transparent," the South African observers noted in their statement.
"We believe democracy was served by this exercise," the statement quoted mission leader Shannon Field as saying.
The statement added that the delegation was proud to have been associated with the people of Somaliland at "this historical juncture".
"We wish the people of Somaliland the very best for their future and we are assured that they will build on their stability and democracy," the statement concluded.
HARGEISA, 17 APRIL 2003 - South Africa's team monitoring Monday's presidential elections in northwest Somalia's breakaway republic of Somaliland has said the voting process was peaceful, orderly and transparent.
"Although technical difficulties were experienced by some polling stations visited, generally polling stations opened on time and voting got underway as planned and voters were enthusiastic and came out in large numbers, especially women, to cast their ballots," the team said.
"Overall, the voting process was peaceful, orderly and transparent," the team said in a statement released here on Wednesday.
"The counting of ballot papers was also rigorously transparent," the South African observers noted in their statement.
"We believe democracy was served by this exercise," the statement quoted mission leader Shannon Field as saying.
The statement added that the delegation was proud to have been associated with the people of Somaliland at "this historical juncture".
"We wish the people of Somaliland the very best for their future and we are assured that they will build on their stability and democracy," the statement concluded.
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