Puntland Troops Prepare to Regain Town

Las Qorey, (somalia) - A full-scale war could break out within days between Puntland and its neighboring breakaway republic of Somaliland following Somaliland troops have seized the coastal town of Lasqoray from Puntland forces.Residents told insidesomalia.org that Somaliland troops entered in the town without resistance.Heavily armed Puntland troops have started to move out to the seized town where additional Somaliland troops as well arrived in to stand firm against their rivals.Military officials in the semiautonomous puntland vowed that they would expel the Somaliland troops from the strategic Lasqoray town.The two administrations have clashed several times over the ownership of Sanaag region.Lasqoray town is in Sanag region it is disputed by Somalia and Somaliland.Lasqoray is a city that is booming and in a rapid growth as new small factories are being opened and formed in Laasqoray. Similar to any other city or district in Sanaag that is the motive the two administrations are rivaling the town.This city is also surrounded by beautiful mountains known locally as Cal Madow, which has internationally valuable un-exploited mineral deposits and unique natural habitats, which are part of Somalias heritage.The residents of the town have expressed additional concern on new fighting that might erupt in the town

Somaliland and the Union of Islamic Courts’ peculiar relationship
by Mohamed JibrellThe Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) were defeated and chased from their last stronghold in Mogadishu in December 2006. Except for few remnants engaged in hit and run, Alqaeda style skirmishes, the UIC fighting capacity has been very much degraded. But it seems that through the unholy convergence of interests between the Mogadishu insurgents and the Somaliland secessionist administration in Hargeisa, their luck seems to be turning for the better. Through the urgings of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), hell bent on the destabilization of Puntland, Somaliland invaded and occupied Puntland's most historic city, Laascaanod. They have also embarked on unsuccessful attempts at the occupation of the major cities of Sanaag.. more..http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Opinion_20/Somalia_Somaliland_and_the_Union_of_Islamic_Courts_peculiar_relationship.shtml