Six killed in clash over land in Somaliland

At least six people were killed and more than 30 injured when rival Somali clans clashed over land on the outskirts of Hargeysa, the capital of the self-declared republic of Somaliland.

The fighting, which erupted on Saturday, pitted the Arab sub-clan against the Eidagale, both of whom live in Dumbuluq estate. Residents said it started over the disputed construction of a building.

Both sides used heavy machine guns and overwhelmed policemen who had been sent in to restore order. The army was eventually called in after six shops had been burned and properties looted.

At least six bodies were lying at the Hargeysa general hospital morgue on Saturday evening, including those of two women and a child.

Ismail Adan Osman, the interior minister, told reporters that 19 policemen were amongst those injured.

Somaliland President Dahir Riyale Kahin called an emergency meeting of his cabinet and appointed a six-man committee to mediate between the two sides, according to a statement from his office.

Land-related clashes have occurred in the past in Somaliland. In April 2004, four people were killed in Burao when fighting erupted between policemen and squatters who were allegedly occupying school land.

In June 2003, a group of armed men attacked and killed two construction workers who were putting up a building on a disputed piece of land in the port town of Berbera.