Hargeisa — Somaliland President Dahir Riyale met with Dr. Tekede Elemu, Ethiopia's state minister for foreign affairs, at the presidential compound in Hargeisa.

According to a press release from the president's office, discussions among the officials included continuing cooperation in security and trade matters.

"The two parties [also] discussed political matters, especially the presidential election [in Somaliland]," read the press release, issued by President Riyale's office.

Dr. Elemu arrived yesterday from Addis Ababa for a three-day visit to Hargeisa for talks with Somaliland officials. He was welcomed at Egal International Airport by Somaliland's foreign minister, Mr. Abdullahi Mohamed Du'ale.

Opposition rallies

In Hargeisa, on Thursday, hundreds of opposition supporters took to the streets to demonstrate against President Riyale's government ahead of the presidential election.

The opposition parties, Kulmiye and UCID, jointly organized the protest in Hargeisa, as hundreds of protestors walked the streets and attempted to gather at Liberty Garden.

But Somaliland security forces had cordoned off Liberty Guard from the protestors. Even more soldiers guarded the street in front of the president's office.

Mr. Faisal Ali Warabe, chairman of UCID party and a presidential candidate, expressed frustration with the Somaliland government's decision to block off Liberty Garden. He stood among the protestors speaking on a bullhorn, as soldiers nearby watched.

Kulmiye party's deputy chairman, Muse Bihi, said the demonstrations shows the public's feeling towards the presidential election and "the need for change."

Somaliland's election crisis started in mid-2008 when President Riyale's administration received a one-year term extension, which opposition parties said was unconstitutional.

The subsequent dispute was resolved, but Riyale received another controversial six-month extension earlier this year, angering opposition parties and triggering protests in Hargeisa.

President Riyale has vowed to hold the presidential election on time on September 27, despite the opposition's demands that the voter-registration data be used in the election.

The government has rejected the opposition's demands, arguing that the voter data is flawed.

Somaliland is located in northwest Somalia. The region unilaterally declared independence from the rest of the Horn of Africa country in 1991, but has not been recognized internationally.