Four witnesses reported that two people were killed due to the outbreak of violent fighting in Garowe, the capital of the semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia, on Tuesday morning. The local parliament had begun discussing changes to the voting system. The Puntland government announced that the local parliament had approved voting to discuss constitutional amendments, indicating that further discussions and voting would take place.
Tribal elder Farah Osman stated, "Fighting broke out immediately after the Puntland Parliament voted in favor of democratic elections and multiparty politics. The lawmakers are still inside the parliament, while the city is being shaken by heavy gunfire. It is a very fierce battle." He added, "Garowe is filled with opposing forces. All roads are closed and all workplaces are shut." The clashes erupted after opposition groups accused Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni of seeking constitutional amendments that would extend his term beyond January of next year or help sway the elections in his favor.
