Somaliland official vows to pursue author of BBC Laas
Caanood clash story
BBC MONITORING INTERNATIONAL REPORTS , March 23, 2000 Yesterday's clash (between
Somaliland and Puntland forces) in Laas Caanoodtown, Sool Region (northwestern Somalia),
was an eye-opener. The minister of resettlement of the Somaliland republic, Abdullahi
Husayn Iman, said this during a function at the resettlement office in the town. He
thanked Soolresidents and administration for according him and his delegation warm
welcome... Addressing the same function, the minister of information and national
guidance, Mr Ali Muhammad Waran-Adeh, denied a BBC report that they hadbeen chased out of
Laas Caanood by Puntland forces yesterday. He said LaasCaanood was a Somaliland territory
and they could enter it at will. The minister urged Sool residents to maintain peace and
strive to develop their areas. Speaking on the occasion, the governor of Sool Region
clarified to the minister of information that the BBC report was a lie. He assured the
ministerthat the author of the story would be pursued. The occasion was also addressed by
several traditional leaders. Source: Radio Hargeysa, Voice of the Republic of Somaliland,
in Somali 1700 gmt 23 Mar 00 Copyright © 2000 BBC Monitoring/BBC. Source: World Reporter
™.