Somaliland Separatists Will Not Be Allowed to Divide Country, Says President

The president of Somalia's transitional government, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, has called on troops from the separatist region of Somaliland to withdraw from the key town of Las Anod.
President Yusuf made the comment while addressing a press conference in Baidoa, a town in southwestern Somalia where a part of the government is based.

"We inform the [Dahir] Riyale administration that he will not be allowed to divide Somalia and we are hopeful that Somaliland will withdraw its troops from Las Anod," President Yusuf said.
Abdullahi Yusuf, Somali president

Somaliland forces captured Las Anod in October after a four-year "border" dispute with the neighboring semiautonomous region of Puntland, Yusuf's stronghold.

The Somali leader said no region will be allowed to "invade" another region and that his government has authority across Somalia, including Somaliland.
Speaking about his health, President Yusuf said he underwent a three-week medical checkup and that he now feels healthy.

He said he is consulting with Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein about the makeup for the new 18-member Cabinet.

President Yusuf pledged that his government will secure Mogadishu in 2008.

Source: Garowe