Three people were killed and several others were injured in clashes
between security forces and anti-government protesters in Somalia's
breakaway region of Somaliland.
Peaceful protests in
Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa, Saturday turned violent after police
tried to disperse crowds outside the parliament building.
Demonstrators responded by throwing stones and other objects at
security troops.
The opposition called for protests after
authorities stopped a parliamentary debate Tuesday on a motion to
impeach Somaliland's leader Dahir Riyale Kahin. The debate turned
violent and one lawmaker pulled out a gun.
The president of the self-proclaimed republic angered the opposition by postponing the election set for September 27.
He is running for re-election but faces a stiff competition from two rival politicians.
Mr.
Riyale called for calm and offered to talk with the opposition. He
warned that violence may harm Somaliland's development as an
independent nation.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia soon
after former Somali leader Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991. Mr.
Riyale took power in 2002.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
