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2008-04-14 Africa Subsaharan
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Cameroon: Parliament Extends President Paul Biya's Rule for Life
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 In yet another setback for democracy in Africa, Cameroon's parliament adopted a constitutional bill removing a two-term limit to allow President Paul Biya to extend his 25-year rule on Thursday, despite opposition to the extension which caused of riots that killed dozens of people in February.
The bill, submitted just a week ago, was approved on Tuesday by the assembly's constitutional law committee which dismissed more than 20 opposition amendments. Opposition lawmakers, who criticised the bill stormed out of the chamber before the vote, Reuters reported.
Biya's Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) enjoys a huge majority, controlling 153 of 180 parliamentary seats. The CPDM oversaw the introduction of a new constitution in 1996 which limited presidents to two seven-year terms. Biya's second term under that constitution expires in 2011, but he made it clear in a New Year speech that he would like to stay on.
There was little visible reaction in the capital Yaounde, whose streets were empty late on Thursday due to heavy rain. A Reuters reporter saw members of Cameroon's military rapid reaction force patrolling parts of the city on Wednesday night. 
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Posted by Steve White 2008-04-14 00:00||
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