Cowke Posted July 14, 2010 Puntland president condemns Uganda terror bombings 13 Jul 13, 2010 - 1:27:12 PM The president of Somalia’s Puntland State government condemned the terror attacks in the Ugandan capital Kampala that killed upwards of 70 people, Radio Garowe reports. Abdirahman Farole, Puntland's president Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, the president of Puntland, sent a signed letter addressed to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, saying: "I would like to extend by deepest condolences to you, to the government, the people of Uganda and the families of the victims." President Farole, who won last year's democratic election to lead Puntland State, condemned the Kampala bombings as "an act of terrorist violence against the people of Uganda." Puntland's leader defended the role of the Uganda-led African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which protects the UN-endorsed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in a few blocks of Mogadishu, Somalia's historic capital. "AMISOM is where the people of Puntland State place their hope for peace and stability in Somalia," read President Farole's letter, which was also issued to media outlets, adding: "Puntland will, as always, stand firmly behind AMISOM in all its endeavors." Puntland, which has been a self-governing federal state in northern Somalia since 1998, has held three peaceful and democratic elections and is recognized as a key partner in stabilizing south-central Somalia, most of which is ruled by Al Shabaab militants who claimed responsibility for the Kampala bombings. Al Shabaab is blamed for a string of killings in Puntland towns targeting government officials and troops, including a roadside bombing in the Gulf of Aden port city of Bossaso that killed three Puntland soldiers last week. GAROWE ONLINE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
