Hargeysa, Somaliland , October 26, 2005 (PANA) - The two opposition parties in Somaliland have agreed to co-operate in parliament, especially during the votes for the Speaker and his two deputies.

All the 49 MPs from the two opposition parties - Kulmiye (Solidarity) and Justice and Welfare party attended a meeting Monday night in Hargeysa, organized by their leaders to seal the working arrangement.

Eighty-two MPs were elected at the 29 September parliamentary polls in Somaliland .

"The reason behind the opposition parties co-operation is to seek solution to the country's problem and foster development," said Ahmed Mohamed Sillanyo, an opposition party leader.

He added: "We felt as members of the opposition we can tackle issues and hold the government accountable only when we are united."

Kumiye spokesman, Mohamed Kahin said the opposition parties were proposing Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi from the Justice and Welfare party for the post of Speaker, while Abdiaziz Mohamed Samale and Bashe Mahamud Farah both from Kulmiye, would vie for the first and second deputy Speaker respectively.

But Somaliland President Dahir Rayale Kahin has dismissed the opposition gang-up as a failure, saying that the Speaker and his deputies would be elected by the 82 MPs in parliament.

His party, the Union of Democrats won 33 parliamentary seats in the September poll, while the opposition Kulmiye and Justice and Welfare parties got 28 and 21 seats respectively.