Somalia: Former President Abdullahi Yusuf to be buried in Puntland

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Somalia: Former President Abdullahi Yusuf to be buried in Puntland

GALKAYO, Somalia Mar 24 2012 (Garowe Online) — Former President of Somalia Col. Abdullahi Yusuf will be laid to rest in his hometown Galkayo on Sunday, Radio Garowe reports.

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GALKAYO, Somalia Mar 24 2012 (Garowe Online) — Former President of Somalia Col. Abdullahi Yusuf will be laid to rest in his hometown Galkayo on Sunday, Radio Garowe reports. Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf died in the United Arab Emirates of pneumonia complications, he was 77. The former president of Somalia from 2004 to 2008 until he was forced into exile, he was granted asylum in Yemen where he was living.

Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Gaas who spoke to reporters said that the Colonel’s body would be brought to Mogadishu where a ceremony for the Colonel will be held before being laid to rest in Galkayo.

“On Sunday the body of Col. Abdullahi Yusuf is expected in Mogadishu where a ceremony will be held before his body will be flown to Galkayo where he will be buried,” said Prime Minister Gaas.

“Anyone who is holding any contempt in his heart for the former president, I ask you to forgive him because he is God’s guest today,” said President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

The burial in Galkayo will be attended by President Farole accompanied by a delegation of officials from the government of Puntland.

Although forced into exile by foreign governments and United Nation Col. Abdullahi Yusuf was still very popular among many Somalis who believed he had sacrificed much for the betterment of Somalia.