Somali Islamists fight with northern enclave troops

MOGADISHU, Nov 6 (Reuters) Fighting today flared between Somali Islamist forces and troops from the semi-autonomous northern enclave of Puntland which has resisted Islamist influence, Islamist sources said.

''Puntland troops attacked us 30 minutes ago in Galinsoor area,'' one of the Islamist sources told Reuters, referring to a town near the Puntland province border.

No more details were immediately available on what would be a dangerous turn of events in Somalia, which many fear is on the verge of war after the collapse of peace talks last week.

''We have no news of any casualties,'' the source said.

The Islamists took Mogadishu and a swathe of the south in June in direct challenge to the aspirations of the interim government of President Abdullahi Yusuf to restore central rule to the chaotic country for the first time in 15 years.

Puntland leaders have said they would resist any attempt by the Islamists to extend their control into the northern province. And Ethiopian troops are said by witnesses to be both bolstering the interim government in the town of Baidoa and entering Puntland to bolster its forces.

Galinsoor lies about 50 km south of the Puntland border, while Baidoa is in southern Somalia.

REUTERS DKA HS1347