Somali faction says 110 dead

One of the two warring factions in the Puntland region of Somalia has said that 110 fighters have been killed in a series of clashes which began on Friday.

Forces loyal to Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed launched attacks on roadblocks controlled by his rival Jama Ali Jama.

Both men lay claim to the presidency of the semi-autonomous region.

Colonel Yusuf's spokesman Ismail Haji Warsame said his soldiers had killed 99 militiamen, and lost eleven fighters.

But Jama Ali's faction said the figure was much lower.

There is no independent confirmation of the reports.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service