On Saturday, at least nine people were killed and 14 others wounded in clashes continuing for a sixth day in Somalia's separatist region of Somaliland, a local government official, and a medic said, hours after the region called for an unconditional ceasefire.
Somaliland seceded from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained widespread international recognition of its independence.
"Somaliland forces are shelling the civilian areas by using mortars and heavy artillery," Abdirahim Ali Ismail, mayor of Las Anod, told Reuters by phone. "The general doctor who was treating the wounded in the war was killed in the hospital."
Mohamed Farah, a doctor at Las Anod Hospital, confirmed the toll and shelling to Reuters.
Its interior ministry said Somaliland's troops had acted in self-defense and the ceasefire announced on Friday still held.
"The JSL (Somaliland) government is making it clear that the JSL forces were not attacking, they were only defending themselves, and they are still in their positions," the ministry said in a statement on its website.
At least 58 people were killed in clashes on Monday and Tuesday.
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