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Kismayo: The Latest Fighting
In Buulo Xaji, Nearby Hoosingow City
NAIROBI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Rival militias have for weeks been preparing to fight for Somalia's main southern trading centre, Kismayo port. The latest fighting broke out this week at Buulo Xaji, about 100 km (60 miles) south of the port and in the nearby Hoosingow City of lower Jubba region. At least 25 people were killed and dozens wounded in clashes in volatile southern Somalia, one warring group and media reports said on Friday, deepening a political crisis in a country trying to form a new government. The clashes flared after militia from the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA), which controls Kismayo and surrounding areas, attacked General Morgan's bases, his spokesman told local media.
Hundreds of militiamen and several vehicles mounted with machineguns deployed by warlord Mohamed Said Hersi, known as General Morgan, have based themselves at Bulo Haji.
The unnamed spokesman said General Morgan's militia lost more than six fighters while nine others were wounded, and that his group had killed a large number of the JVA militia, and arrested 14 of them, including the leader of the attack.
The spokesman added that his forces torched two armed battle wagons and seized another one at Bulo Haji town.
Other media reports said General Morgan had been wounded during a battle at Abdalla Birole village, some 45km outside of Kismayo town, but there was no confirmation of the claim.
Nine people, about half of them JVA fighters and the rest civilians, were killed in this clash, the independent Kismayo FM radio reported.
A spokesman for the JVA confirmed the fighting, but blamed General Morgan's militia for starting the fighting.
"We are defending our territory from those who are trying to seize it, they will not succeed," the JVA spokesman who declined to be named told Reuters by phone from Kismayo. "We are ready for whatever kind of fighting it takes to keep it."
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