Region | Somalia
Clashes between Somali Islamist militias kill 14
Clashes between rival Islamist militias have killed at least 14 people in central Somalia, residents said on Sunday. The fighting is the latest sign of deep divisions among Islamist insurgents.
- AP
- Published: 16:38 March 15, 2009
Mogadishu: Clashes between rival Islamist militias have killed at least 14 people in central Somalia, residents said on Sunday. The fighting is the latest sign of deep divisions among Islamist insurgents.
Residents said most of those killed in Saturday and Sunday's clashes were fighters for the Al Shabab group or its rival Ahlu-sunah Wal-jamea.
The US State Department says some Al Shabab leaders have links to Al Qaida and the group has launched several attacks on African Union peacekeepers. Ahlu-sunah Wal-jamea has a more moderate reputation for promoting Somalia's traditional Sufi form of Islam.
The weekend clashes in the town of Wabho killed eight people, mainly fighters, said resident Ali Mohamed. Six people were killed in the nearby village of Dac, says Hassan Ali.
Both sides used heavy machine guns, artillery and mortars in Wabho and Mohamed said many civilians had been injured.
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