Peaceful region of Somaliland votes for president

[June 26, 2010]  HARGEISA, Somalia (AP) -- Officials in Somaliland say polls have been busy but peaceful in the second presidential election held in the self-declared republic.

The mayor of the region's capital of Hargeisa said polls were calm but busy Saturday morning. The electoral commission said voters lined up hours before polls opened.

Three men are vying to become president of the region, a haven of relative peace in northwest Somalia that declared its independence from Somalia in 1991. Southern Somalia has not had an effective government for the past 19 years.

Somaliland has its own security and police forces, justice system and currency, but is not recognized by any other state.

More than 1.6 million people have registered to vote at more than 1,000 polling sites this year.

[Associated Press]

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