PSC/PR/2 (CV) Rev.1 Page 6 20. The attacks by the armed elements opposed to the TFG increased significantly immediately after the NRC, in October, but abated thereafter, following the intensification, in November, by the Ethiopian and TFG forces of their operations, particularly in the districts where these armed elements are reported to be hiding. On 12 December 2007, the newly Ethiopian trained Somali troops were deployed in Northern Mogadishu. These better-trained and equipped troops have made it possible to enhance the presence of the Government forces on the ground. 21. Over the past weeks, the anti-government forces have spread their activities to regions that were previously peaceful, though not necessarily under Government control. Their strategy seems to be to further weaken the TFG by destabilising as many areas as possible, fully aware of the fact that the Government does not, at the moment, have the capacity to deploy significant numbers of troops in all the regions. 22. In the Middle and Lower Jubba regions, the al Shabaab are reported to be training new recruits and planning attacks, taking advantage of the instability created by clashes between clans, especially over revenue collected from the Kisimayo port. Armed elements are also reported to be using the Lower Shebelle region to ferry arms. Recently, the TFG forces in the area were attacked and forced to withdraw to Bardoogle. In the Bay region, there have also been stepped up attacks on TFG and Ethiopian positions. Baidoa being the town that hosts the TFP and the majority of the TFG Ministers, the presence of these armed groups poses a real threat. In Bakool, the situation is not different. Due to insurgent threats, since 17 December 2007, the Governor and his key staff have relocated to Baidoa. In Galgaduud, where the presence of the TFG is limited and which is the home of former UIC Chair, Cheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, the regional Governor and police commander are reported to have left the region for Galkayo, in Puntland, citing threats by elements belonging to the UIC. 23. During the past months, there has been increased tension between the semiautonomous region of Puntland and the self-declared independent Republic of Somaliland. On 17 September 2007, forces loyal to Puntland’s authorities clashed with local pro-Somaliland militias near Laascaanood, the capital of the disputed Sool region, in the central north of Somalia. The fighting, which continued sporadically for the remainder of September 2007, escalated in October, claiming several lives and leading to a further deterioration of the situation in the Sool and Sanaag regions. Laascaanood has since remained under the control of the Somaliland forces. At the time of finalizing this report, there were reports of fresh fighting between the two sides. These repeated clashes, which are a matter of deep concern, particularly as they affect an area that had previously largely remained peaceful, are linked to conflicting territorial claims by the two sides: while Puntland claims parts of the area in view of the ethnic make up of its inhabitants and their clan ties to Puntland, Somaliland maintains that the disputed region lies within its colonial era borders. 24. The period under review also witnessed incidents involving AMISOM. On 8 October 2007, mortar attacks targeted AMISOM position at Kilometre 4; there were no causalities. On 24 October, three soldiers suffered minor injuries following a grenade attack on the Mission’s position at Km 4. On 19 December, insurgents attacked