Addis Ababa - The Ethiopian Somali Democratic League said the meeting held in Jijiga last Saturday with the intention to oust the president of the national state was unconstitutional.
In a news conference he gave here yesterday, Dr. Abdulmejid, chairman of the league said in accordance with the constitution, the meeting should have been called by the state's president or a person delegated by him, "But that has not happened," he added.
Dr. Abdulmejid said the league does not have any intention to support the national state's president to stay in power unless he enjoys popular support. But the process has to be constitutional, he said.
The chairman further said "Only 16 of the 31 executive committee members of the state met and passed the decision to oust the president, when in fact, the decision should have been passed at least in the presence of two-third of the members".
Dr. Abdulmejid said the league does not have any intention to support the national state's president to stay in power unless he enjoys popular support. But the process has to be constitutional, he said.
The chairman further said "Only 16 of the 31 executive committee members of the state met and passed the decision to oust the president, when in fact, the decision should have been passed at least in the presence of two-third of the members".
Dr. Abdulmejid said the league has called for an extraordinary party meeting scheduled to take place on October 8 in Jijiga town with a view to seek solutions. He further said the national council on its part called for the holding of a meeting to discuss the issue on October 10.
Ethiopian News Agency VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN (THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER n0782 - 11/10/97)