Somaliland dismissses Mogadishu's incoming report on Las Anod violence

[Deeq A.]

Hargeisa (HOL) - Somaliland's House Speaker has dismissed plans for a report on the situation in Las Anod to be prepared by Somalia's federal government as a provocation and an attack on Somaliland's sovereignty. A press release from the breakaway republic's House of Representatives declared that "every report from the Mogadishu Assembly was not based on the reality on the ground in Las Anod." Earlier this week, Somalia's Lower House Speaker, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Noor, appointed a ten-member committee to prepare a report on the volatile situation in Las Anod. However, some members of the committee have already resigned. Last week, Somaliland House of Representatives Speaker, Abdirisaq Khalif Ahmed, said that government incompetence on Somaliland's part played a significant role in the uprisings in Las Anod. He emphasized that the Somaliland government is responsible for Las Anod's security and that the intelligence and police services should deal with the anti-government protests. Somalia's committee said it plans to publish the report but did not elaborate on a prospective date. At least 20 people have been killed in Las Anod, a town in Somaliland's east disputed between breakaway Somaliland and Puntland after anti-government protesters and security forces clashed for several days last week.

Source: Hiiraan Online