Somalia fighting 'leaves 50 dead'

Armed factions dominate Somalian politics

Several days of factional fighting in Somalia are reported to have left more than 50 people dead and a number of villages burnt to the ground.

Heavy fighting in the central Mudug region near the town of Galcaio, 372 miles (600 kilometres) north of the capital Mogadishu, between two rival clans accounted for about 40 of the dead, according to local elders.

Drought has exacerbated inter-clan tensions

It is not known what triggered the outbreak of violence, in which 60 people were said to have been injured.

The clashes, which involved militiamen armed with four-wheel drive vehicles adapted to carry anti-aircraft guns, were continuing on Saturday.

Elders said the fighting was spreading to other villages.

A separate bout of violence broke out in Coriolei district, 50 miles south of Mogadishu, leaving 15 people dead and 20 wounded, according to witnesses arriving in the capital.

Four villages had been burned to the ground, forcing hundreds of families to flee, they told reporters.

Inter-clan battle

Reports suggest that the fighting was between the Jiddoh and Jareer sub clans, which normally coexist relatively peacefully, and was sparked off by a dispute over land in the drought-hit valley of the Lower Shabelle River.

Forces of the transitional government are said to have restored calm to the district.

Since the dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991, rival clan-based political factions have battled each other for control of different regions of Somalia.

The transitional government took power in Mogadishu 18 months ago, but it has had difficulty tackling the warlords, heavily-armed militias, drought and food shortages plaguing the country.