The forces of South Mogadishu faction leader, Hussein Aideed, are being challenged by the Rahanwein Resistance Army.

The BBC's East Africa Correspondent, Cathy Jenkins, says that fighting took place for most of the day. Early reports had suggested the Rahanwein Resistance Army had gained an upper hand, but conflicting versions of the event were soon being presented.

The wounded have been brought to Mogadishu

By early evening, some sources were reported as saying the miliatia of Hussein Aideed had called in reinforcements.

Twenty-one wounded were brought to the Somali capital, Mogadishu. One of the hospitalised was quoted as saying there had been bullets everywhere and the fighting had been extremely intense.

Fight for control

The battle in Baidoa is the latest in a string of fights to gain control of the town. Last month, the Rahanwein Resistance Army had taken control of the town for a few hours but quickly withdrew.

Our correspondent says independent information on the situation in Baidoa is difficult because radio contact has been severed.

Ethiopian soldiers have been accused of fighting in Somalia

Meanwhile, in the south-western region of Gedo, the Somali National Front (SNF) has accused Ethiopian forces of mistreating civilians and of detaining some prominent business and religious leaders in the town of Luq.

The SNF had lost control of Luq to a breakaway SNF faction on Saturday.

The ousted SNF leaders say that Ethiopian troops and military hardware were responsible for their defeat and that the Ethiopians have moved to capture two more small towns, Golwayn and Yurkud, some 40km from Luq.

However, independent sources said they had no information of more towns being taken. Three wounded Ethiopian soldiers are said to be in Fudor, the main town of Bakol region, according to a BBC source.

There has been no response from Ethiopia.

In recent months, there have been reports of arms being shipped to Somalia, in violation of a 1992 arms embargo.