13 Aug 2009
At least ten Somali soldiers have been killed and 25 people injured in a sudden eruption of violence between two rival groups within the government forces.

Fighting continues in the Somali capital Mogadishu between soldiers loyal to the city's deputy-mayor, Abdi Fatah Sabriye, and supporters of the police chief, General Hassan Awale Kheydid.

Conflict broke out between the two divisions of Somali government forces over the control of a local checkpoint and its revenues, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Somalia remains the scene of continuing civil war that has grappled the Horn of Africa nation since 1991 following the overthrow of the country's junta dictatorship under Mohamed Siad Barre.

War rages on in the poverty-stricken nation over power struggle between deeply-divided militant groups and a shaky central government which has failed to claim control even in the capital.

The lawless state has been described as being on the verge of collapse despite international military presence meant to restore peace.

Over 16,000 people have been killed and a projected 250,000 others have been internally displaced across the war-ravaged nation during the past several months alone.
presstv