CORRECTS - Somalia accuses Kenya of violating sovereignty

CORRECTS BACKGROUND INFORMATION IN LAST PARAGRAPH

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Somalia on Tuesday accused Kenya of violating its sovereignty after its southwestern neighbor invited a representative of the breakaway Somaliland region for a diplomatic briefing in the capital Nairobi.

Somalia's ambassador to Kenya, Mohamoud Ahmed Nur, protested the presence of the Somaliland flag and representative at the event, which he subsequently walked out of, at the Kenyan State House.

In a statement, Mogadishu accused the Kenyan Foreign Ministry of intentionally violating Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It also demanded a full explanation of the "unfortunate" move.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kenya had struck a conciliatory tone, admitting regret for the "inadvertent and inappropriate presence of the flag of Somaliland at the annual diplomatic function."

Relations between the two East African nations have been lukewarm, especially since four years ago, when armed conflict broke out between Somali forces and rebels backed by Jubaland State which Mogadishu says are also supported by Nairobi. Kenya denies these claims.