Saturday, 12 July 2008, 18:00 CDT
Text of report by Somali Holy Koran Radio on 12 July
[Gedi] Flight operations at the Ugaas Khalifa airport in Beled Weyne were disrupted after UIC forces banned [words in distinct] a man named Sharif Shaykh Husayn, who allegedly has close relations with Ethiopian troops in Janda Kundishe in the outskirts of Beled Weyne town. Sharif Shakykh's khat was to be distributed in various parts of Hiraan Region.
Ethiopian troops in Janda Kundishe issued an order banning all flights from landing at the airport as long as Sharif Shaykh Husayn's khat trade is under restriction by the UIC forces. According to sources at the airport, the businessman's car was recently targeted with a mortar attack in central Beled Weyne resulting in the injuries of three civilians. Today's disruption affected operation of aid agencies and airlines companies. The UIC forces are famous for banning trade on khat and other narcotics.
Originally published by Holy Koran Radio, Mogadishu, in Somali 1830 12 Jul 08.
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Source: BBC Monitoring Africa