Puntland POW's inside Buroa prison grounds

Puntland POW's arrive in Buroa prison

General Dayr Abdi Iskatoos	Brigadier-general Muhamad Abdi Salwo	Brigadier-general Muhamad Hiir Abdi

Buroa, Somaliland, 13 January 2008 (SL Times) - Fresh fighting broke out early Sunday morning in the disputed region of Sool between Somaliland and Puntland forces.

According to a press statement released by Somaliland’s Ministry of Defence “around 5:30 AM Sunday morning, Somaliland armed forces stationed at Dhabansar area (70km south of Las Anod) were attacked by Puntland forces and local clan militias supporting Puntland. Somaliland army overwhelmed the attackers with superior well-trained men and firepower and in a matter of hours inflicted a crushing defeat against the aggressors who sustained large number of causalities. Many of the attackers fled in disarray towards Garowe.”

The ministry’s statement added that its forces destroyed many Puntland armed vehicles and had taken 28 Puntland combatants as prisoners of war; three senior commanders are among the 28 POWs.

Puntland, on the other hand, denied that its forces went on the offensive against Somaliland and said its forces based in Dhabansar were attacked by Somaliland and in self defence, Puntland forces, thwarted the attackers who lost many men and equipment.

Up to now, there is no independent confirmation reporting the numbers of dead and injured from Sunday’s fighting between forces belonging to Somaliland and Puntland.

Nonetheless, Somaliland officials transferred to Buroa central prison, capital of Togdheer region, 28 POWs who were fighting on the side of Puntland’s forces during Sunday’s clash. The local media were given access to interview the 28 POWs who told the local media that they were being well treated by Somaliland authorities.

The three senior Puntland commanders among the 28 Puntland POW’s taken to Buroa prison are General Dayr Abdi Iskatoos who is the deputy chief commander of Puntland’s armed forces, Brigadier-general Muhamad Abdi Salwo and Brigadier-general Muhamad Hiir Abdi.

According to Somaliland military officers based in Oog town in Sool region, the location of Sunday’s battle is now in the hands of Somaliland forces, and according to the same source, Somaliland has secured Dhabansar and its surroundings from Puntland and Puntland is unlikely to recapture Dhabansar in the immediate future.

Somaliland and Puntland clashed less than three months ago over Las Anod, the capital of Sool region, which Somaliland recaptured from Puntland after its being under the control of Puntland for the last five years.

Source: Somaliland Times

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