The Puntland minister for information, Mr Awal Ahmad Abdi (Asharo), has said in a written statement that Husayn Muhammad Aydid's [principal Mogadishu faction leader] claims that an agreement has been reached with the Puntland leader are baseless and unsubstantiated. Husayn Aydid earlier alleged that Col Abdullahi Yusuf and himself had agreed to attend a Libyan organized Somali reconciliation meeting on 5th April.

Mr Asharo further said there was no agreement between Col Abdullahi Yusuf and Aydid regarding any meeting in Libya. The only agreement between the two was that Aydid should leave the areas [Kismaayo, southern sea port] which he has taken over illegally.