The leader of Somalia's separatist republic of Somaliland flew to Djibouti on his first trip out of the country since the Oct. 29 suicide bombings, Radio Garowe reported.

Mr. Dahir Riyale, the Somaliland president, arrived in Djibouti City later Friday after flying from Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland and Somalia's second-largest city.

The Somaliland president's spokesman, Said Adani, told reporters that Mr. Riyale will visit Djibouti and Ethiopia and hold "talks on security" with relevant officials.

Riyale's delegation to Djibouti reportedly includes Finance Minister Awil Ali Du'ale and Gen. Abdisamad Haji, the president's defense adviser.

Local reports said t he Somaliland delegation is staying at the same hotel as separate delegations led by disputed Somali Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein and Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, an Islamist opposition figure who signed a peace deal with the Somali interim government.