The chairman of the opposition Somali faction in Asmara, Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad, has denied that his faction has any involvement in the fighting in [disputed] Sool Region.

Speaking at a press conference in the Eritrean capital Asmara, Mr Sharif said his followers were not involved in the recent clash between Puntland and Somaliland troops over the disputed Sool region.

The Chairman of Somali opposition said that his faction would fight against Ethiopian troops in the country which are backed by the Somali Transitional Federal Government.

He termed his group's alleged involvement in Somaliland-Puntland fighting as baseless.

"We wont fight Somalis as long as Ethiopian troops are present in our motherland. Our Mission is to push the Ethiopian troops out of Somalia," said Shaykh Sharif, who is currently in Asmara.

Meanwhile, The president of Puntland regional administration, Adde Muse accused the self-declared administration of Somaliland of getting full support from the ousted Union of Islamic Courts and the Asmara-based opposition group.

Somaliland and Puntland troops clashed in Laas Caanood town of Sool Region on 15 October and more than 10 people were killed and a dozen others were wounded.

Source: Radio Gaalkacyo, Gaalkacyo, in Somali 1015 gmt 17 Oct 07

BBC Monitoring