Authorities in Somalia's breakaway republic of Somaliland say they are not involved in the ongoing Djibouti peace process, where the next Somali president is expected to be elected, Radio Garowe reports.

Abdullahi Mohamed Du'ale, Somaliland's foreign minister, told a Tuesday press conference in the regional capital Hargeisa that the Somaliland government has no delegates at the Djibouti conference.

"We are a country that is independent of Somalia, as we have told the UN Special Envoy before," Mr. Du'ale said, while answering a question about Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah's calls for Somali regions like Puntland and Somaliland to join the peace process.

Somaliland's foreign minister admitted that politicians from Somaliland clans are part of the Djibouti peace process, but warned that such politicians "do not represent Somaliland."

Located in northwestern Somalia, the Somaliland regions are relatively stable and have a working government and an elected leadership.

The unrecognized republic is slated to hold presidential elections on March 29, when opposition leader Ahmed Silanyo is widely expected to defeat the unpopular incumbent, President Dahir Riyale.

Critics accuse Mr. Riyale of unconstitutionally extending his term by an additional year in 2008, forcing the presidential elections to be delayed.