Puntland denies interfering in Somaliland's affairs

The authorities in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, have dismissed accusations by the neighbouring self-declared republic of Somaliland that they are interfering in Somaliland's internal affairs. A statement issued by the Somaliland authorities on Monday warned Puntland's leader Col Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmad to stay away from the disputed regions of Sool and Sanaag. "We will not tolerate his threats against parts of Sool and Sanaag regions," it said, adding that Abdullahi Yusuf "will bear full responsibility for the consequences" of his actions. But Dahir Mire Jibril, a spokesman for Abdullahi Yusuf, told IRIN that Puntland "does not consider Sool and Sanaag as part of Somaliland". "Sool and Sanaag are part and parcel of Puntland, and the people there do not consider themselves part of Somaliland," he stressed. Dahir added that the recent elections in Somaliland "during which no voting took place in either region, are proof of that". He warned the Somaliland authorities "not to foment instability in these stable regions". Both Somaliland and Puntland claim the two regions, which geographically fall within the borders of the former British Somaliland, but where most of the resident clans are associated with Puntland.