Canada's Africa Oil stops Somali exploration -staff

DHAROOR, Somalia, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Canadian oil and gas exploration company Africa Oil Corp (AOI.V) has stopped exploration in Somalia's Puntland region for lack of funds, local staff and contractors said on Sunday.The company had started seismic mapping in a region it believed had strong prospects of holding rich oil deposits like those in geologically similar Yemen, a neighbour across the Gulf of Aden."Africa Oil Corp has failed in its objective ... due to lack of funds," Ahmed Ali, a local staff member, told Reuters. "We have not received salaries for three months. Foreign staff have already flown out and the company has stopped its operation." more..http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssEnergyNews/idUSL459645620090104