By Ahmed Kheyre, London, UK

With regard to the recent events in the Sool region of Somaliland let me re-assure you that Somaliland is peaceful nation   striving to have   an amicable relations with all its neighboring countries in the Horn Africa and   the world.  

However, Las-Anod is Somaliland. I would like to make this clear, the Puntland militia had invaded Las-Anod few years ago. Exercising patience and maturity Somaliland decided to resolve the issue peaceably.

Unfortunately, the administration in Puntland were not receptive to Somaliland's efforts to engage in a dialogue to resolve the issue, and it is worth nothing that during   this occupation, Somaliland continued to pay the salaries of the teachers and subside the local schools, as well as providing   comprehensive   health education services and vaccinations for the people of Las-Anod.

Somaliland never abandoned the people of Las-Anod and its environs, and now they are back in the fold. On Monday October 15th, 2007 after repelling an attack launched at them by the Puntland militia, the Somaliland Defense Forces once and for all drove the militia   out of Somaliland.

The operation was conducted by the Somaliland Defense Forces only, there were do   "external" assistance. No Islamic Courts belligerents, in fact, I seem to recall the last Islamic court sympathizers in the north   were driven out of their caves in Beer Gaal, which by the way is in Puntland!.

Somaliland is not an aggressor, Somaliland is simply defending its territorial integrity.

Sincerely,

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