Somaliland protests against Puntland over fighting

Mogadishu- Somalia (PANA) -- Thousands of Somaliland residents Wednesday took to the streets of the capital Hargeisa to denounce what they termed was an incursion and aggression against the breakaway province by Puntland fighters in last week's fighting.
The marchers demonstrated for four hours in different parts of Hargeisa, chanting anti-Puntland songs and waving placards denouncing the latest fighting between it and elements from Puntland.
"Down with Puntland! We will defend our motherland from the blood thirsty warlord (Colonel Yusuf, the newly elected president of Somalia who comes from Puntland)," they chanted.
   A statement released by Somaliland's presidential spokesman Adan Idriss Duale urged Hargeisa residents to assemble at a local stadium Wednesday to condemn alleged acts of aggression committed against Somaliland by Puntland.
The statement also indicated that similar protests were planned for other major towns within Somalia as Somaliland prepared a delegation to visit foreign countries to inform the international community about Yusuf's hostilities towards it.
The self-declared Republic of Somaliland is yet to earn international recognition as an independent state.