Hargeysa, April 1, 2007 – A press statement issued by the spokesman of the president of Somaliland says there is no truth in reports published by independent newspapers and some websites to the effect that the EU delegation which paid a visit to the country last Thursday had put pressure on the president to release Haatuf journalists who were serving time in Mandheera prison.

He said the president of Somaliland, Dahir Rayaale Kahin, had pardoned the journalists before the arrival of the EU delegation. The spokesman added that the pardon came about as a result of the president's consideration of the several appeals he had received from the traditional elders, intellectuals and religious leaders of Somaliland.

The spokesman pointed out that the EU delegation had in fact paid a visit to the Mandheera prison with the government's permission and had seen the prisoners including the Haatuf journalists. The delegation actually commended the government on the way it took care of the inmates and maintained the prison.

Source: BBC Monitoring