Ruling party wins Somaliland parliamentary polls

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

HARGEYSA-- The ruling party in Somalia's self-declared republic of Somaliland won more seats than its two opposition challengers in September's legislative polls, the region's election commission reported on Saturday.

The Union of Democrats (UDUB) won 33 of the 82 seats in parliament, while the opposition Kulmiye (Solidarity) and Justice and Welfare (UCID) parties took 28 and 21 seats respectively.

Ahmed Ali Adami, chairman of Somaliland's National Electoral Commission (NEC), announced the results at a news conference in the enclave's capital, Hargeysa.

Some 246 candidates competed for the parliamentary seats. Two of the seven women candidates were elected.

"I will use this opportunity together with my colleague to raise [awareness of the] plight of women and youths, which has been ignored for a long period of time by our leaders," said Ikraan Haji Daud Warsame, who was elected on a Kulmiye party ticket to represent a constituency in the western town of Borama.