Somalia: Puntland VP speaks on Somaliland violence against protesters
GAROWE, Somalia Jan 22 2012 (Garowe Online) - Puntland Vice President Gen. Abdisamad Ali Shire asked the Somaliland government to end the violence that has forced people to flee their homes in provinces of Sool and Ayn, Radio Garowe reports.
Vice President Gen. Abdisamad spoke at a conference in Garowe to promote journalism in Somalia, the VP took the opportunity to speak about the violence that was occurring in Las'anod as 2 people died and 12 were wounded after Somaliland forces fired on protesters on Saturday.
Vice President Gen. Abdisamad asked the Somaliland forces to leave the hotly contested lands. "After the blatant violence against inhabitants of those lands, the Puntland government is asking the Somaliland government to pull out their forces from Ayn and Sool," said VP Gen. Abdisamad.
The Somaliland forces attacked the city of Buhodle capital of Ayn region last week killing 7 and injuring 15. Somaliland government is unpopular in Sool, Sanaag and Ayn regions where they have militarily occupied lands in order to extend their government rule.
Puntland and Somaliland have had a territorial dispute since 2003 over the regions of Sool, Sanaag and Ayn. Although the three regions were hotly contested Las'anod was under Puntland rule until 2007 after Somaliland forces captured Las'anod and have occupied it ever since.
