HARGEISA, Somalia Nov 20 (Garowe Online) - A senior government official in Somalia's separatist state of Somaliland said on Thursday that the United Nations has lowered the security-level for the region.

Ali "Sanyare" Ibrahim, Somaliland's planning minister, told journalists at a press conference in the regional capital Hargeisa that the security-level has been lowered from a 3 to a 4, which means security is unreliable.

Speaking for Somaliland's government, Mr. Sanyare said: "We are not convinced by the report. It says that the UN will continue development projects, but there is a possibility that the staff size will be reduced."

Somaliland is located in northwestern Somalia and has been renowned for its relative stability and functioning government.

Suicide bombers killed more than 20 people in Hargeisa on October 29, the deadliest terror attack in the region.

Source: Garowe Online