Bosaso (Sunatimes) Police officers from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland have today clashed with Somali pirates at the Jariban and Gara’ad coastal divisions in the Mudug region.

Pirates have established bases in Garad and Jariban divisions where they are holding hijacked ships and hundreds of crews for ransom.

The clashes have started after Puntland police officers launched an attack against the pirates who mainly operate in the areas controlled by Puntland authorities.

The pirates who are well armed were able to destroy one of the vehicles of the Puntland police as the fighting lasted for the better part of today.

The losses registered by the two sides could not yet be established as all the communication means have been cut off from the areas. Puntland authorities have earlier vowed to fight the pirate groups that operate in its borders.

By Yahye Mohamed

Radio Bar Kulan

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