Seven Killed As Islamist Groups Fight In Somalia

Residents fear the violence could worsen at a time the departure of the Ethiopian troops will leave a potentially dangerous power vacuum.

At least seven people were killed in fighting between rival Islamist groups in Somalia on Saturday, one of the factions said.

The clashes between relative moderates and al Shabaab militants flared a day after Ethiopia announced it had begun withdrawing troops who have been backing up a weak transitional government in the Horn of Africa nation.

"Shabaab attacked us again this morning but we chased them and killed six of them," said Sheikh Abdullahi Abu Yusuf, a leader of the Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca group.

"Al Shabaab has killed one of our Sheikhs near Mogadishu," he told Reuters. "We shall fight them till the story of Al Shabaab becomes extinct."

Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca accuses Shabaab -- a group that is on Washington's list of terrorist organisations -- of hunting down and killing its religious leaders, and desecrating graves, acts they are against Islamic teachings.

Residents fear the violence could worsen at a time the departure of the Ethiopian troops will leave a potentially dangerous power vacuum. There is no sign of reinforcements being sent to strengthen an African peacekeeping force of 3,200.

Without the Ethiopians, analysts say there is a risk the Islamists will seize the capital Mogadishu, where there are daily attacks.

But diplomats say the Ethiopian departure may take the sting out of the Islamist insurgency, which has become a nationalist cause and holds sway in much of southern and central Somalia.

They also see this week's resignation of President Abdullahi Yusuf as an opportunity to forge an inclusive government which can work for peace. Ethiopia is withdrawing troops because of its frustrations with Somalia's fractious politics.

Residents of villages in central Somalia, close to the border with Ethiopia, said they saw a convoy of about 30 Ethiopian vehicles leave on Friday evening.

"They have been in this area in the past few months keeping an eye on Islamist movements in central Somalia. They left nothing here, they even removed their tents," said Ali Said Hersi, a resident of Balanballe village.