Somaliland leader rules out reunion with Somalia

By Guled Mohamed

HARGEISA (Reuters) - The leader of the self-declared breakaway enclave of Somaliland ruled out reuniting with battle-scarred Somalia and said the interim government's claim of victory over insurgents in Mogadishu was premature.

President Dahir Rayale Kahin also expressed hopes of greater international recognition for Somaliland after Sweden said in February it would treat the enclave as a self-governing area with regard to development aid.

Kahin's comments to reporters late on Tuesday came days after the Somali government declared victory in Mogadishu after a war against Islamist gunmen, foreign jihadists and a group of disgruntled clansmen.

Mogadishu's worst fighting in 16 years has killed at least 1,300 people in recent weeks and sparked a massive exodus from the city with some fleeing to Somaliland's capital Hargeisa.

"It is too quick to say the TFG (transitional federal government) has captured Mogadishu or they are governing Mogadishu," Kahin said.

"Time will tell. They will not get far if they try to... rule the people by force," he added.

Kahin also warned Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf against any belligerent moves towards the Gulf of Aden enclave.

"Abdullahi Yusuf cannot come here. It is a day dream that Abdullahi Yusuf is coming and that he will govern Hargeisa."