NASSIR Posted July 29, 2011 by Mohamed Shiil Special to All Headline News Puntland forces and a militia led by Mohamed Said Atam reached a preliminary ceasefire over the weekend. “Two sides agree to stop fighting and enhance peace efforts,“ a Puntland senior official, Ali Abdikadir, announced Saturday. “Puntland agreed moving the troops it has amassed in Galgala but no date was specified for the troop pullout.” The talks, held in Af-urur near Galgala, started last week. The two sides agreed to resume talks next month to resolve the remaining key issues, including implementation of a full-scale ceasefire. Atam’s militia had demanded release of their militia in Puntland prisons, the abolition of Puntland intelligence services and the withdrawal of Puntland troops from Galgala. Conversely, Puntland demands had included that Atam’s militia lay down its weapons and join peace efforts, start peace talks and accept the amnesty that Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole offered to them. Puntland and Atam's militia had clashed in Galgala in May in a fight that claimed at least 10 people after the militia attacked and seized the mountainous position from Puntland forces. Last year, Atam’s forces and Puntland fought in Galgala and Atam’s militia were ousted from the settlement. Puntland officials have accused Atam and forces loyal to him of having links with al-Shabaab, a claim that Atam has denied several times. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
