41. By Email of 3 October 2007, the Secretariat received the submissions on the Merits from the Complainants. 42. By Note Verbale dated 17 October 2007, the African Commission forwarded the Complainants‟ submissions to the Respondent State and by a letter of the same date acknowledged receipt of the Complainant‟s submission on the Merits. By Note Verbale of 22 October 2007, the Respondent State acknowledged AC HP R 43. receipt of the Complainants‟ submissions on the Merits, but informed the African Commission that the submissions were received after the deadline had passed and requested that the Communication be deferred to the 43rd Ordinary Session to give it time to submit its own arguments on the Merits. 44. By Note Verbale of 29 October 2007, the Secretariat of the African Commission acknowledged receipt of the Respondent State‟s Note Verbale and informed the Respondent State that a decision on its request will be made by the African Commission during its 42nd Ordinary Session. 45. At its 42nd Ordinary Session, the African Commission considered the Communication and deferred its decision to the 43rd Ordinary Session to allow the Respondent State to submit its arguments on the Merits. 46. On 13 May 2008, the Secretariat of the African Commission received the Respondent State‟s submissions on the Merits. 47. At its 43rd Ordinary Session, the African Commission considered the Communication and decided to defer further considerations to the 44th Ordinary Session to allow the Complainants to be served with the Respondent State‟s submissions on the Merits. 8