Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Comoros Islands Opposition Accuses Tanzaniaâs Foreign Minister of âMeddlingâ

   A  leading  member  of  Comoros  Islands opposition coalition said the
   group   will   officially  present  a  protest  letter  to  Tanzaniaâs
   government  Wednesday  after  accusing its foreign minister -- Bernard
   Membe -- of meddling in Comoros Islands internall affairs.

   Peter Clottey 06 April 2010

   A  leading  member  of  Comoros  Islands opposition coalition said the
   group   will   officially  present  a  protest  letter  to  Tanzaniaâs
   government  Wednesday  after  accusing its foreign minister -- Bernard
   Membe -- of meddling in Comoros Islands internal affairs.

   Ali  Houmadi  Msaidie  said Foreign Minister Membe made pronouncements
   supporting  the  extension of President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambiâs
   mandate, which he described as a constitutional âcoup dâétatâ.

   He  said  the  foreign  ministerâs  comments  were  inconsistent  with
   President   Jakaya  Kikweteâs  opposition  to  constitutional  mandate
   extension.

   âThe  stand  shown  today  by  the Tanzania foreign minister Honorable
   Membe  is  in contradiction of what His Excellency (President Kikwete)
   said  while  visiting  Comoros two years ago. During this visit and in
   his  speeches  in  Anjouan,  Moheli and here in Grande Comoros he said
   that  itâs  not  good  to change the constitution in order to maintain
   people in power,â he said.

   People  in  the  Comoros Islands voted last year in what analysts said
   was   a  controversial  referendum  that  extended  President  Sambiâs
   mandate.  But the opposition dismissed the vote saying the low turnout
   was an indictment of Mr. Sambiâs leadership.

   Msaidie  said Foreign Minister Membeâs support for the Comoros Islands
   leader is an affront to the people.

   âStrangely the foreign minister said that they are supporting the move
   taken by President Sambi to extend his mandate for 18 months more than
   the  date  of  the expiring of his mandate which is on the 26^ of May.
   And  Honorable Membe came today in Comoros to support a constitutional
   coup.  This  is  against  what  the president (Kikwete) said and it is
   against the official policy of the Tanzania government,â Msaidie said.

   He  also  accused  the  Tanzanian foreign minister of refusing to meet
   with  the  opposition  after  holding  discussions  with  officials of
   President Sambiâs government during his official visit.

   Political  observers  say  tension  is  high since President Sambi was
   declared  winner  of last yearâs referendum that extended his mandate.
   Opposition  groups accused him of clinging to power and weakening each
   Islandâs autonomy - - a charge supporters of the government deny.

   The  government  defended the referendum saying the current system was
   too costly.

   Local  media  reported  that President Sambi is scheduled to hand over
   power  to  a  leader  from  Moheli in 2011 under the regular system of
   rotation.

.