Somalia: Deadly fighting erupts in Shabelle region

Published on Friday 11th July 2008

Somalia: Heavy fighting has flared up between rival militiamen in the fertile lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia.

The regional troops of the region, clashed with forces loyal to a man who newly claimed that he is the successor of the regional commissioner Abdiqadir Mohamed Nor who was appointed as Somali enjoy as he said.

According to eyewitnesses contacted on Mareeg online in the region, the two sides started exchanging heavy gunfire outside the village of Jazeera, south of the regional headquarter town of Merca.

The eyewitnesses confirmed seeing more than four armed militiamen from both sides were wounded in the fighting

Reached by phone, Mr.Jama Blue who claimed him as the commissioner of the region has declared that the regional chief of Lower Shaabelle region has been replaced into him but officials of the regional administration denied his remarks.

Some news say that Mr. Abduqadir Mohamed Nor who is the commissioner of the region is in Mogadishu.

Independent sources have confirmed that at least 1 battle wagon was destroyed during the fighting and its wounded crews brought to hospital in Afgoi.

No exact numbers of causalities are available.

In the last days both sides have been preparing themselves for war later than Jama Blue has claimed that he is the successor of the regional commissioner, despite some peace efforts.