Voting-day clash kills 4 in contested area of Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia
By APSunday, June 27, 2010
Somaliland: 4 killed in election-day skirmish
HARGEISA, Somalia — Officials in Somaliland say a voting-day skirmish killed four people in a contested area of the self-declared republic.
The election board says a militia from neighboring Puntland region tried to raid a polling station in an area claimed by Somaliland and Puntland. Officials said late Saturday the disturbance forced them to close 34 stations early in that area.
The International Republican Institute, a U.S. observer group, said Sunday their observers found few voting irregularities in the region.
Three men ran for president of the region, a haven of relative peace in northwest Somalia that declared its independence in 1991. Somaliland has its own security and police forces, justice system and currency, but is not recognized by any other state.
