Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was on Wednesday re-elected unanimously for a second term as chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference.

The election was held at Majlis-e-Shoora or the advisory council of the Hurriyat in Srinagar [Images] on Wednesday.

Announcing his re-election at a hurriedly-convened news conference at party headquarters in Raj Bagh in Srinagar, Geelani said he had "sincerely requested to be relieved of his responsibilities owing to his failing health and age factor."

However, "the constituents of Hurriyat unanimously elected me for a second term," Geelani said.

Hurriyat would continue to struggle for the right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir [Images], he said.

He said self-rule, autonomy and demilitarisation would not resolve the Kashmir issue.

Geelani was elected chairman of the Hurriyat for the first time on September 13, 2003.