At least thirteen people have been killed and more than a dozen wounded in clashes between militia groups in southern Somalia.

The fighting broke out on Friday afternoon between the militia of the Islamic courts, which controls Lower Shabelleh region, one-hundred-and-fifty kilometres south-west of the capital, Mogadishu, and soldiers from the Rahanwein Resistance Army, which is trying to seize the area.

Hundreds of families have fled as the fighting has neared their homes.

Earlier in the week, Rahanwein fighters, wearing Ethiopian uniforms, invaded six villages in Lower Shabelleh, killing four people.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service