Somali government troops clash with militia

Mogadishu, Oct 21: Somali government troops fought with a local militia loyal to the country's newly powerful Islamist movement today, residents said.

''Heavy fighting took place early this morning between government troops and a local militia loyal to the Islamists,'' said Abdihakim Ahmed, a resident of Bur Hakaba town.

''The fighting is still raging on. It looks like the local militia have been pushed out of town,'' he added by telephone.

''I don't know how many are dead or wounded, I could not go outside.'' Bur Hakaba lies between Mogadishu and provincial Baidoa town, the seat of Somalia's weak interim government.

The rise of the Islamists, who have seized most of the south since taking the capital in June, threatens the government's attempt to reimpose central rule on a country in chaos since the 1991 ousting of a dictator.

Laying down strict sharia law, the Islamists have vowed holy war against giant neighbour Ethiopia, whose troops they accuse of invading Somalia to prop up the Western-backed government.

Ethiopia denies it and calls the Islamists terrorists.

REUTERS