Villagers flee as 12 killed in Central Somalia clash

MOGADISHU,

Fighting in central Somalia between members of the same clan has killed at least 12 people, as a fragile cease-fire hundreds of kilometres away in the capital appeared to be holding, witnesses said today.

The violence in the Hiraan and Galgudud regions is not connected to a recent surge of bloodshed in Mogadishu, which killed more than 140 before the fighting died down last weekend.

“The fighting has prompted many villagers to flee from their houses fearing that the clashes could continue or spread elsewhere,” said Mr Sa’id Moalin, an elder, on local radio today. The battle was over land and water rights.

Witness Ahmed Ibrahim said by two-way radio that 12 people, most of them militia members, had been killed in the violence that began early yesterday.

The clash was about 340 kilometres from Mogadishu, which has been roiled in recent weeks by some of the worst fighting in more than a decade. Islamic militias and a secular alliance of warlords are fighting for power in this lawless Horn of Africa nation. (Agencies)