05 Oct 2009

There is intense rivalry between armed groups to control Kismayo.
Heavy fighting between al-Shabaab fighters and Hizbul-Islam forces on the outskirts of Kismayo, in Somalia, have left 11 civilians dead and scores injured.

The fighting erupted 60 kilometers southeast of Kismayo late on Sunday and is reportedly still ongoing in a region called Jiijo Mahaad, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The leader of al-Shabaab, Ahmed Godane, and his counterpart in Hizbul-Islam, Sheikh Hassan Dahir, met for a second time behind closed doors near the town of Afgoye to resolve the deadlock.

The two leaders departed the meeting without a compromise.

Al-AShabaab has given Hizbul-Islam seven days to leave Kismayo.

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