16 Somalis killed in tribal clashes

Somali officials and eye witnesses said on Tuesday that 16 persons were at least killed and scores injured in clashes between the militias in two towns to the north of the capital Mogadishu.

The confrontations erupted on Monday over conflicts on the land and razing rights in the two villages of Bali Joulid and Bleitoyani to the north of Mogadishu and lasted until Tuesday morning, according to witnesses. Tribal chieftains from other tribes tried to mediate to end the fighting but failed in their mission.

At least 11 persons were killed from Bali Joulid village while other five were killed in violent clashes in Bleitoyani town. Mortars shelling and machine guns were used in Bleitoyani clahses and a child was among the killed, while other 8 were injured.

The fighting sides represent various wings from a tribe of a strong tribal influence in the country that had clashes in past months over clashes on lands property and revenge. Somalia remained without a central government since president Seyad Berri was toppled at the hands of the war lords in 1991 and since then the country entered into a civil war. To get out of the crisis a Somali parliament and government were formed in 2004 in Kenya. They still face great problems at the security level to return back to run the country's affairs from the inside.