Residents returning to Garowe

Families who fled fighting last month in Garowe, the regional capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, are returning to their homes, a local journalist told IRIN on Tuesday. "People have been trickling back into Garowe over the last four days," Farah Yusuf Nur of Midnimo radio said. Forces loyal to former Puntland leader Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf attacked and captured the town from forces of recently-elected Puntland President Jama Ali Jama, last month. This led to an exodus of people who feared renewed fighting. According to Farah Yusuf Nur, residents were now returning following an appeal from elders who assured them they would "resolve everything peacefully". However, it appears the Puntland elders have so far been unable to resolve the political impasse in Garowe, and Abdullahi Yusuf's forces are still in control, Farah told IRIN. There were attempts to persuade the colonel to remove his forces from the town, in order to start a dialogue, but he reportedly refused to withdraw. Farah said Colonel Yusuf told radio Midnimo that he would leave the political scene if Jama Ali Jama also left. "This is the first time he indicated that he was considering such a move," Farah said. Jama Ali Jama is said to be in Bosaso, the commercial capital of Puntland, and has reportedly left it to the elders of Garowe to resolve the matter of Abdullahi Yusuf, sources in Bosaso told IRIN on Tuesday. 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. 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 a general congress for this purpose and elected Jama Ali on 14 November, in the hope that this would end the leadership wrangles, local sources said.