GAROWE, Somalia Nov 6, 2006 – A motion against the BBC Somali Service radio was introduced in the Puntland Parliament on Monday in Garowe, the Puntland capital.

Some 8 Puntland legislators introduced the bill to ban the BBC Somali Service from operating in Puntland regions. Sources said another 22 lawmakers supported the motion and a debate opened.

The Puntland MPs voted after the debate, with more than 35 lawmakers voting to have the BBC radio banned from operating inside Puntland.

Lawmakers who proposed the motion accused the BBC Somali Service – the radio with the largest reach inside Somalia – of being partisan and pro-Islamic Courts, to the detriment of Puntland and other political factions.

The 17th Session of the Puntland Parliament opened on Tuesday.

President decree

A presidential decree reportedly signed by Puntland President Mohamud “Adde” Muse was published yesterday (Sunday) on Puntlandgov.net, a Website allegedly operated by the Puntland administration.

President Adde Muse’s decree effectively banned “political meetings” and “political parties” in Puntland.

The Puntland leader’s decree also promised to take “legal action” against any “radio, newspaper and other news medium” who publish/broadcast material supportive of the Mogadishu-based Islamic Courts movement.

Source: Garowe Online