| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa: Horn |
| Islamic clerics told to leave Somaliland |
| 2005-09-25 |
| Authorities in Somaliaâs breakaway region of Somaliland on Saturday warned outsiders, particularly Islamic clerics, without legitimate business there to leave immediately following the arrest of several alleged Al Qaeda operatives. In a crackdown ordered after the arrests of five suspected members of Osama bin Ladenâs network during a shootout with police on Friday, Interior Minister Ishmail Aden said non-Somalilanders illegally in the region would be deported. âI have instructed the (Islamic) clerics from neighbouring Ethiopia and Somalia to leave the country if they do not have legal papers and are not genuine businessmen registered by relevant authorities,â Aden said. âThose who have commercial interest here may stay as long as they respect the laws of the land but others must leave as soon as possible,â he told a news conference. âThis is strictly a security issue.â âThe activities of outsiders and suspect (Somalilanders) will be scrutinized further for security purposes,â Aden said, adding police in the region had arrested a total of five alleged Al Qaeda members on Friday. On Friday, he said three suspected extremists, including âan internationally knownâ Afghan-trained Al Qaeda leader, had been detained after police raids in the capital Hargeisa that followed tips from local residents. Three police officers were wounded in the shootout and Aden, while he declined to identify the suspects, told reporters that all five detainees were cooperating with police. Hargeisaâs Ogal daily newspaper, meanwhile, said at least 100 people had been detained for questioning after the raid, but added that many had been released. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #2 I am starting to take a liking to these Somalilanders. All else being equal, it might serve the US to set up some investment opportunities in that almost-country. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-09-25 11:24 |
| #1 Yaknow maybe we ought to be conversatin with these folks. |
| Posted by: raptor 2005-09-25 06:51 |