Cablegate: Attacks in Puntland and Somaliland

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #2513 3040357
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 300357Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7478
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0283
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 5432

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002513

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL CASC SO
SUBJECT: ATTACKS IN PUNTLAND AND SOMALILAND

REF: DCM SLUTZ-OPSCTR TELCON

1. Earlier today, in seemingly coordinated attacks, bombs
exploded at public and foreign facilities in Bosaaso,
Puntland and Hargeysa, Somaliland. In Bosaaso, two Puntland
Intelligence Service (PIS) facilites were hit. In Hargeysa,
the Ethiopian mission, the UNDP office and the Somaliland
Presidential compound were hit. The bombings appear to have
been caused by vehicle-born devices. At this time, we are not
aware that any group has claimed responsibility for the
attacks. No AMCIT casualties have been reported. Ethiopian
President Meles confirmed to A/S Frazer in Nairobi (both are
here for the IGAD conference on Somalia) that three Ethiopian
officials at their mission in Hargeysa were killed. Media
reports indicate that some 22 have died and another 50 or so
were wounded in Hargeysa; we understand the French military
are medivac-ing some of the wounded to Djibouti. In Bosaaso,
we can confirm 2 PIS officials dead and 7 wounded.
RANNEBERGER

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