Fighting between Puntland troops, anti-government militias flares up in Boosaaso 196 words 23 March 2006 20:57 BBC Monitoring Newsfile English (c) 2006 The British Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced except with the express permission of The British Broadcasting Corporation.
Text of report by Somali Puntland-based Radio Midnimo on 23 March
Reports reaching us from Boosaaso [commercial hub of Puntland Region, northeastern Somalia] say an armed fighting broke out at Majiyahan District, 20 km northwest of Boosaaso town.
The reports said the fighting erupted between the Puntland forces and militias loyal to area residents. The fighting followed a visit by foreign firms sometimes this week which reportedly aimed at exploring for minerals in the area.
The Puntland forces early this morning detained seven militias whom they said were captured after the fighting broke out between the government troops and militias. There have been no independent reports to confirm the magnitude of casualties.
Fresh reports say that there are fears this might lead to serious insecurity and political instability in the Puntland Region.
The former Somali government licensed a Romanian firm to prospect minerals in Majiyahan District. The Puntland regional administration has now entered into an agreement with an Australian firm, which has carried out mineral exploration exercise at Qandala area of Puntland.
Source: Radio Midnimo, Boosaaso, in Somali 0000 gmt 23 Mar 06
