At least seven peple have been killed after heavy fighting resumed in the administrative town of Galkayo between soldiers from two semi-autonomous regions of Somalia.
The fresh clashes broke out over the weekend pitted forces from Puntland with those of Galmudug renewing fears over a disputed area straddling their border.
The warring sides have been fighting for the control of Galkayo which is divided between clan militias loyal to the different regions.
Hirsi Yusuf Barre, the mayor of Galkayo south, accused soldiers from Puntland of launching attacks first on Saturday.
The fight resumes barely two weeks after the two leaders of the semi-autonomous states agreed to ceasefire.
In the south, forces loyal to the weak UN-backed government are also battling Islamist insurgents who have waging attacks to oust the Federal government for the last 25 years.
