Somali town captured

The transitional government has little control

The southern Somali town of Baidoa is reported to have fallen to forces loyal to Colonel Hassan Mohamed Nur Shatigudud.

	Somali chaos No central authority since 1991 Transitional government only controls parts of Mogadishu Rivals clans and factions battle for territory Peace talks due soon in Kenya Guide to Somalia's powerbrokers

The Ethiopian-backed warlord's forces have been battling with the fighters of his former deputies in the Rahanwein Resistance Army, Sheikh Adan Madobeh and Mohamed Ibrahim Habsadeh.

The BBC's Hassan Barise in Somalia says that hundreds of armed troops pulled out of town this morning and the fighting has now stopped.

Since President Siad Barre was ousted in 1991, most of Somalia has been a chaotic patchwork of small and occasionally warring fiefdoms.

A Transitional National Government was established in 2000 - but it has little authority outside the capital, Mogadishu.

Once a supporter of the TNG, Colonel Shatigudud became a strong opponent of the interim administration in October 2001, which caused a split in the RRA.

The militiamen have used anti-aircraft guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars during the fighting, destroying many civilian homes.

Colonel Shatigudud fell out with his deputies

At least 12 people were killed on Wednesday.

Aid agencies have pulled out of Baidoa because of the insecurity in what was once the country's breadbasket.

Since fighting for control of Baidoa began a month ago, more than 110 people have died and some 200 injured - many of them civilians.

Many of the towns main businesses have shut down and almost 80% of the population have fled to other towns and villages.