Puntland leader warns Somalia govt, urges Somaliland peace 12 Sep 12, 2009 - 1:27:02 PM

GAROWE, Somalia Sep 12 (Garowe Online) - The president of Somalia's Puntland State government has reportedly sent a clear warning to Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), while urging politicians in the breakaway region of Somaliland to uphold the peace, Radio Garowe reports.

A United Nations delegation led by the Secretary-General's special envoy for Somalia, Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, landed Saturday morning at Conoco airstrip in the outskirts of Garowe, the capital of Puntland, where he was welcomed by Puntland officials.

Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole," the president of Puntland, met privately with Mr. Abdallah at the State House in Garowe where the two leaders discussed a range of issues including the campaign against piracy and human trafficking.

Mr. Abdallah [left] and President Farole at Garowe State House, Sep. 12, 2009
Speaking later at a press conference, Puntland's leader said the discussions also included development projects and improving the security sector.

"I encourage our brothers in Somaliland to safeguard the stability [in Somaliland]," said President Farole, on a day at least three civilians were killed in riots that rocked Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. READ: 3 killed in Somaliland riots

The Puntland president briefed reporters about a cooperation agreement signed on Aug. 23, 2009, in the city of Galkayo between President Farole and TFG Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmake.

That agreement, which some have referred to as the "Galkayo Accord," is the basis of cooperation between the Puntland government and the TFG, which only controls pockets of Mogadishu with the backing of African Union peacekeepers.

Mr. Abdallah, who enjoys close relations with TFG President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and some members of the TFG Cabinet, praised the relative peace and stability in Puntland.

He noted that "there are too many politicians in Somaliland" and urged them to compromise for the sake of the peace. Mr. Abdallah spent two days in Hargeisa mediating between the government and the opposition before flying to Garowe for talks with Puntland leaders.

Puntland government sources tell Garowe Online that President Farole sent a strong message to the TFG leadership, warning them against breaking the Galkayo Accord.

There is growing friction among the top TFG leaders, as President Sheikh Sharif has "sided" with Finance Minister Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden and Fisheries Minister Abdirahman Ibbi over Prime Minister Sharmake.

A TFG delegation led by President Sheikh Sharif is currently in Djibouti, where Fisheries Minister Ibbi reportedly signed an agreement with a Djiboutian government minister regarding the training of a Somali naval force on Djiboutian soil.

Puntland officials say this deal in Djibouti is a violation of the Galkayo Accord, which awarded Puntland the right to establish the headquarters of the Somali navy in Puntland territory.