Heavy Fighting Flares up in Somalia

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 31, 2002

Heavy Fighting Flares up in Somalia

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A largely anticipated heavy fighting has flared up early morning on Monday between the supporters of Colonel Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed, the president of the semi-autonomous administration of Puntland, and his rival Jama AliJama, the ousted leader of Puntland in the remote villages of Jidad and Qaararsor, about 150 East of Qardho town.

Even thoug it is very difficult to obtain a concrete information about the fatalities incurred during this fighting, still the extent of the damage caused by the fighting has seriously been felt in the towns of Qardho, Galkaio, Garoweh and the port town of Bossaso where almost all of the battle wagons andthe infantry troops of Colonel Yussuf have left out for the fighting.

A spokesman for the fighters of Jama Ali Jama who does not wantto be named said the militiamen of Colonel Yussuf have this morning launched what he called a decisive attack against their militia bases.

Since the killing of the district commisioner of Qardho town four days ago, the pressure has been mounting and fighting againstthe strongholds of Jama Ali Jama was emminent even though each side was accusing the other for being responsible of that killing.

The militiamen of Colonel Yussuf have set off to attack Dhudo village and the areas between Beyla and Iskushuban, but those of his rival led by General Addeh Muse Hirsi Boqor have ambushed themat Jidad and Qaraarsor villages.

Nobody knows about the exact casualty figures as a result of this fighting, but the spokesman for Jama Ali Jama said his men have confiscated five battle wagons and destroyed three others from the forces of Colonel Yussuf.

There's no independent confirmation to this allegation. The spokesman did not speak about the death on his side, but he admitted that both sides have suffered serious losses.

There's no word as yet from the side of Colonel Yussuf about this fighting, but some of the top aids of Colonel Yussuf told Xinhua on telephone in Bossaso town they denied that there has been any fighting Monday between any two sides.

Nonetheless, the people in Bossaso town have been largely speaking about the fighting Monday.

Commuters reaching Bossaso town have told Xinhua that they haveseen Colonel Yussuf himself organizing his men at Al-Hamdulillah village, about 90 km south of Bossaso town.

This fighting has flared up just a day after 18 clan elders andintellectuals including Saed Aw-Musa, Abdullahi Ali Qod, Burhan Boqor Musa and others have issued a statement in which they have warned against such war which they said might lead to clannish fighting between the people of Puntland.

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