Three soldiers reportedly killed in clash over elections in Puntland

GOOBJOOG NEWS|GAROWE: At least three soldiers were killed and scores of others injured in Garowe, Puntland following a dispute over the distribution of ballot boxes for the contested May 25 district council elections.

Sources in Garowe say three soldiers from the Puntland Maritime Force were killed and nine others injured after they clashed with another faction of security forces allied with the opposition. The PMPF officers were escorting the ballot boxes when they came under attack.

The circumstances surrounding the fighting remain unclear. The clash came a few hours after the opposition called for the elections to be stopped accusing President Abdullahi Deni of seeking to manipulate the process to ensure an extended stay in office.

Puntland Political Forum, a platform of opposition politicians Monday called for the elections to be stopped and urged the convening of a state consultative forum to address pertinent political issues including the elections and transition.