Clan militias in Las Anod fight For The Town

Hargeysa, September 22, 2007 (SL Times) – On Monday morning [Sept 17], a clan militia belonging to the clan of the former Puntland Minister of Interior Affairs and Security, Mr M. A. Habsade attacked forces loyal to the Puntland administration stationed in Las Anod, the provincial capital of Sool region in Somaliland.

The provincial capital was rocked with sounds of heavy anti-aircraft gun fire as the two militias battled inside the town from morning to late into the afternoon. By nightfall much of the fighting had died down. One person was reported killed in the battle and many were wounded on both sides of the conflict.

According to local reports, the local ‘Ba-Harseme’ clan militia of Las Anod mounted a coordinated attack against positions held in the town by the Puntland forces. The ‘Ba-Harseme’ clan militia managed to gain a foothold in much of the town pushing the rival ‘Puntland’ forces to take up defensive positions in the town’s southern sections.

Puntland has blamed Somaliland for Monday’s conflict in Las Anod and said that Somaliland backed the local militia in attacking its forces stationed in Las Anod.

Somaliland has rejected Puntland’s accusation and said that the conflict has nothing to with it or its forces but was a matter related to local clan issues.

In 2003, Somaliland evacuated its administration from the provisional capital of Sool region to the town of Ainabo, 70km west of Las Anod, leaving Puntland forces to occupy the town.

Source: Somaliland Times