BAIDOA, Somalia -- Ethiopian-AMISOM forces Thursday halted a convention aimed at forming an autonomous state for six regions in southern Somalia in Bay regional capital of Baidoa, Garowe Online reports.Local reports say African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)'s forces closed the hall where the regional conference was underway, pouring hundreds of protesters into the streets in response to the decision. The angry crowds were chanting anti Mogadishu-based federal government slogans, with participants at the rally setting tyres on fire.
Federal Government of Somalia's reportedly asked Ethiopian-AMISOM forces to prevent the conference organizers who include politicians, traditional elders and federal parliamentarians from entering the conference hall.
On the other hand, a meeting contrary to the halted convention and led by former parliament speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan has faced similar restrictions at Bakiin Hotel in Baidoa, sources said.
Adan seeks to push Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle communities into an autonomous federal state that excludes Jubaland regions from the map.
Federal Parliament Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari voiced support for the decision of forming a federal state consisting of Bay, Bakool, Gedo, Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Lower Shabelle regions during his visit to the region in September 2013.
Jubaland and Somalia Federal Government agreed on 23 points that granted substantial autonomy and recognition to Jubaland administration under the