Fighting breaks out in Puntland

Fighting broke out in Garowe, the regional capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, on Wednesday, a local journalist told IRIN. Forces loyal to the region's former president, Col Abdullahi Yusuf, attacked at 0800 local time (0500 GMT) and were "reported to be in control of the town", Muhammad Sa'id Kashawito of the Bosaso-based Radio Midnimo, said. The newly elected president of Puntland, Jama Ali Jama had reportedly retreated to Qardo, 280 km north of Garowe, said Kashawito. Abdullahi Yusuf, who left Garowe in early August, returned on Wednesday leading a force of 300 militia, with 17 "technicals" (pick-ups mounted with heavy weapons), according to local sources. Kashawito said the colonel was expected to bring in reinforcements over the coming days from Galkayo, his home base. Meanwhile, Jama Ali, who was elected on 14 November by a general congress of Puntland elders, and his forces are reported to be regrouping near Qardo. Kashawito, however, doubted if they would mount any serious counteroffensive. He said people in Bosaso, 480 km north of Garowe, were expecting Abdullahi Yusuf to advance on Bosaso after consolidating his grip on Garowe. "It is only a matter of time before he gets here. There is no organised force to stop him," Kashawito told IRIN. There were already reports indicating that Abdullahi Yusuf's forces were in the process of moving out of Garowe towards Bosaso, he added. Kashawito said the situation was still fluid, and that all telecommunications with Garowe had been cut. The fighting was concentrated on the residence of President Jama Ali Jama, and the Puntland bank area. Eleven people, one of whom was a woman, are reported to have died in the fighting, with scores of wounded, said Kashawito. Puntland declared itself autonomous in 1998, following a conference of local elders. Abdullahi Yusuf was elected as the region's first president for a three-year term. Confusion over Puntland's leadership broke out at the end of June this year, with Abdullahi Yusuf and the former chief justice, Yusuf Haji Nur, both claiming to be president. The controversy started after Abdullahi Yusuf, whose term was to have ended on 30 June, claimed that his mandate had been extended by parliament. Yusuf Haji then issued a decree asserting that, under the Puntland charter, he was the legitimate authority in the region until a new administration was elected. Puntland's traditional elders meeting in Garowe in July rejected Abdullahi Yusuf's extension, and named Yusuf Haji Nur as "acting president" until the election of a new administration was held. The elders subsequently convened the general congress for this purpose. The conference, which first convened in Garowe, on 26 August, elected Jama Ali in the hope that this would end the leadership wrangle, local sources said.