A small plane was yesterday refused clearance to land at the new Laas Caanood [northeastern Somalia] airport, according to reports received from our correspondent based there.

The plane, which entered the town's airspace at around noon, is said to have been on a mission to take a delegation from Laas Caanood to attend the Djibouti conference. However, the plane was not cleared to land. A report by our correspondent, Faysal Jama, said a commotion ensued at the airport between Somaliland forces and police and some soldiers who were escorting the Djibouti-bound delegation. The disturbances began in the morning and continued until midday. The delegation which was led by Garad Abdi Ghani was waiting for the plane at the airport but left following the scuffle and the turning away of the plane. Meanwhile, reports say that the number of people trying to attend the Djibouti conference out of greed has increased. Scores of people have arrived in the town, including some unknown elders who are staying in hotels after failing to find their way to Djibouti to attend the conference...

Source: `Mandeeq', Hargeysa, in Somali 8 May 00 p 8