Separate clashes between rival militias have killed dozens of people in Somalia, highlighting insecurity in the country which has been without a functioning government since 1991.
Two closely related Somali sub-clans with a long history of bad blood clashed this week over a water-tanker, killing at least 15 people in fighting that involved armored cars and anti-aircraft missiles, officials said today.
Ten others were also wounded in gun battles on Tuesday and Wednesday in the remote Galinsoor district between the Sa'ad and Saleban sub-clans of the Hawiye group, Somalia's most powerfully armed clan.
Fighting among Somalia's myriad clans and sub-clans has been common since warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre 14 years ago and took over the nation of about ten million.
The latest flare-up started when Saleban militia took a water tanker owned by the Sa'ad, a source close to Mogadishu warlords told Reuters in Nairobi by telephone.
"It was a brutal fight," he added, saying heavy weaponry was used including armored cars and anti-aircraft missiles.
Somalia's Rural Development Minister Mahamud Mohamed Guled, from the Saleban group, said efforts aimed at cooling tempers were underway. He appealed to donors to fund Somalia's fledgling government to help it facilitate reconciliation.
"The latest incidents were fueled by revenge fighting," Guled said by phone from Jowhar, the provincial seat of the Somali government which relocated from Kenya last year in a bid to restore a central government for the first time since 1991.
"We the MPs (members of parliament) and ministers from both sides are in contact ... but getting there needs funds ... it's very remote and insecure," he added.
Although fighting has died down, sources in Mogadishu said both sides were stocking up arms ready for another face-off.
Meanwhile in the capital Mogadishu, residents said at least 14 people were killed when militias loyal to two rival businessmen fought in a street battle involving battlewagons - flatbed trucks mounted with heavy machine guns or with anti-aircraft guns fired horizontally.
Residents said 28 others were wounded in the fighting which broke out early on Friday between loyalists of Abukar Adan and Bashir Rage who control El-Maan and El-Adde ports respectively.
The fighting was sparked when Adan's men refused to allow a plane carrying some Western guest of Rage to land at his Isaley airport, residents said.