BURAO, Somalia Apr 11 (Garowe Online) - Security forces in Somalia's separatist republic of Somaliland raided the regional office of Kulmiye opposition party as part of an ongoing effort to silence the opposition, Radio Garowe reports.

Police units in the town of Burao, capital of Togdheer region, raided the office of Kulmiye opposition party on Saturday and attempted to stop a press conference where opposition politicians were condemning the administration of Somaliland President Dahir Riyale, who received a controversial six-month term extension earlier this month.

Opposition politicians and their supporters engaged in a fistfight with the police, with confirmed reports indicating that the police fired bullets in the air. Police officers were eventually forced to retreat as crowds gathered, witnesses said.

There were reports of some civilian injuries, but no one was hurt by the bullets.

Tens of supporters gathered at Kulmiye's party office afterwards to encourage opposition leaders and their refusal to accept Mr. Riyale's term extension for the second time since 2008.

Last week, security forces opened fire at a Kulmiye party rally in the city of Hargeisa, the regional capital of Somaliland.

Located in northwest Somalia, Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from the rest of the Horn of Africa country in 1991 but has not been recognized internationally.

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Source: Garowe Online