Clashes between rival rebel groups in southern Somalia have left at least 28 civilians killed and over 120 injured. A number of militants is also thought to have died.

The clashes occurred in Kismayu when rebel group al-Shabaab took control of the port city in a seven-hour battle with Hizbul Islam, a rebel group with which it had been sharing control of the city. The country, which has had no central authority for some time, is being ruled by a number of Islamist rebel groups. Al-Shabaab, which is believed to be linked with al-Qaeda, controls large parts of the country which are beyond the reach of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. More than 19,000 civilians have died in the fighting since 2007, with over 1.5 million others displaced by the violence.

Photo: United Nations