Somali police stations taken over

Ethiopian forces are leaving after two years in Somalia

Islamist militiamen have taken over a number of abandoned police stations in the Somali capital as Ethiopian troops continue to withdraw from the city.

The militiamen said they were moving in to prevent an explosion of violence.

They are thought to support a faction that has signed a peace deal with Somalia's transitional government.

A more militant group, al-Shabab, is continuing the insurgency. Ethiopia has said it aims to ensure there is no security vacuum after it withdraws.

Separately, at least six people are reported to have died in fighting between rival Islamic factions further north.

Members of al-Shabab clashed with local supporters of a rival group - Ahlu Sunna Wal-jamaah - in Guriel, about 400km (250 miles) north of Mogadishu.

Ethiopian military forces began pulling out of Somalia on Friday after two years helping the transitional government fight insurgents.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's spokesman said the withdrawal would take several days.

About 3,400 Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers from the African Union in Somalia are taking up positions vacated by the Ethiopians.

There are fears the withdrawal of the 3,000-strong Ethiopian force could lead to a power vacuum and that violence will continue despite a peace deal between Somalia's transitional government and one of the main opposition factions.

However others say the pullout, together with the resignation of President Abdullahi Yusuf, could make it easier for a new government to be formed.