Abdullahi Yusuf takes Bosaso without a fight

Col Abdullahi Yusuf has captured the port of Bosaso, the commercial capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, a local journalist told IRIN on Wednesday.

Forces loyal to Abdulahi had entered the town an hour earlier without a fight, with forces loyal to his rival for the presidency of the region, Jama Ali Jama, having withdrawn on Tuesday, said Abdinasir Farah of the Bosaso-based Midnimo radio.

The move follows controversy over Puntland's leadership which started after Abdullahi, whose term of office ended on 30 June 2001, claimed that his mandate had been extended by parliament.

Puntland's traditional elders, meeting in Garowe in July, rejected his claim to an extended mandate and named Yusuf Haji Nur, Puntland's former chief justice, as "acting president" until the election of a new administration.

The elders subsequently convened a general congress in August 2001 and, on 14 November, elected Jama Ali for a three-year term in the hope that this would end the leadership wrangles.

"Abdullahi Yusuf entered Bosaso at 10 am local time [07:00 GMT]", Abdinasir told IRIN on Wednesday. "Thousands of residents came onto the streets to welcome him, and he is in total control of the town. At this moment [12.15 pm local time], he is meeting people at the presidency."

Abdullahi Yusuf, who had left Bosaso in early August 2001, returned on Wednesday leading a force of between 500 and 800 militia, with 30 "technicals" (pick-ups mounted with heavy weapons), according to local sources.

Meanwhile, Jama and his forces were regrouping in Qardho, 220 km south of Bosaso, sources in Garowe, the region's administrative capital, told IRIN. They doubted, however, that these forces would mount any serious counter-offensive capable of challenging Abdullahi's forces.

"The fighting seems to be at an end for now," the sources said. "We were all taken by surprise by the ease with which Abdullahi Yusuf routed Jama Ali's forces. They seem to have simply collapsed."

Puntland declared itself autonomous in 1998, following a conference of local elders. Abdullahi Yusuf was then elected as the region's first president for a three-year term.