Mogadishu, Somalia, November 06, 2006 – Heavy fighting has been reported between forces of Union of Islamic Courts and   Puntland, the semi-autonomous region of Somalia.

If confirmed, Monday's fighting will be the first time   the Islamic Courts'   fighters have clashed with   forces from either of the country's two autonomous regions.

Since capturing Mogadishu, the   Somali capital, in June, the Islamic Courts have   pledged to extend their control over the whole of the East African country.

But the   leaders of Puntland and Somaliland, two self-governing areas of northern Somalia, have said they will fight any attempt by the Islamic Courts to invade   their areas.

On Monday, the Islamic Courts   said that Puntland's forces had carried out a pre-emptive strike against their   fighters who were gathering on the edge of Puntland.

"Puntland troops attacked us 30 minutes ago in Galinsoor area," an   Islamic Courts   source told Reuters on Monday morning.

Galinsoor is a town   about 60km south of the approximate borders of Puntland.

A   commander in the field told Reuters   that his men had been ambushed by a combination of Puntland forces and fighters loyal to a tribal leader whom the Islamic Courts   ejected from Mogadishu earlier this year.

"They attacked us with lots of heavy weapons and 'technicals'," he added, referring to the Somali term for pickups turned into battle-wagons packed with guns and fighters.

There was no immediate information on casualties.

Authorities from Puntland could not be reached for comment.

Rapid expansion

The Islamic Courts captured Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia during the summer.

The movement's leaders say they intend to extend their rule over the whole of Somalia and over Somali-populated areas of neighboring Ethiopia.

The Islamic Courts'   aspirations directly conflict with those of the interim government which aims to restore central rule to the country for the first time in 15 years.

This government is closely linked to the Puntland's important clans.

Somalia 's president, Abdillahi Yusuf, was the president of Puntland until 2001.

Thousands of troops from Ethiopia are said to be   inside Puntland to bolster its forces and in the town of Baidoa where the interim government has its headquarters.

Addis Ababa says   it has only sent a few hundred military trainers to Baidoa.

The northern half of Somalia is home to two self-governing states, Puntland and Somaliland.

Both regions have established functioning democracies and relative stability.

Somaliland , the better-organized of the two northern regions, has declared independence – although this has not been recognized by any other countries.

Source: Aljazeera + Agencies