DJIBOUTI CITY, Somalia Sep 19 (Garowe Online) - The United Nations Special Representative for Somalia, Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, held a press conference Friday in Djibouti where he discussed piracy and an Islamist militia’s threat to shut down Mogadishu's international airport.

Speaking in French, Mr. Ould-Abdallah said leaders in Somalia's self-governing region of Puntland are directly linked to pirate gangs operating there.

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, UN Special Envoy for Somalia

"The Puntland leadership has made it easy for pirates to establish a base there [in Puntland]," the UN Special Envoy said, while alleging that ransom money collected by pirates "will be used to fund the 2009 presidential elections in Puntland."

He indicated that piracy has worsened inflation across Somalia and threatens the security of Somalia's neighbors, including Ethiopia and Yemen.

Further, the Envoy said the Islamist militant group al Shabaab's threat to shoot down airplanes attempting to land at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport has a negative impact on the civilian population.

"Mogadishu's airport belongs to all Somalis," he said, while underscoring that piracy and terrorism are part of the larger problem in Somalia, where "some groups oppose peace and stability."

Puntland government leaders have not responded to the UN Special Envoy's serious allegations, but Mr. Ould-Abdallah said he will present these issues to Somali government and opposition delegates meeting in Djibouti for a joint decision which will be presented to the United Nations.

Source: Garowe Online