"Heavy fighting took place early this morning between government troops and a local militia loyal to the Islamic Courts," said Abdihakim Ahmed, a resident of Bur Hakaba town.
"The fighting is still raging on. It looks like the local militia have been pushed out of town," he added by telephone.
"I don't know how many are dead or wounded, I could not go outside."
Bur Hakaba lies between Mogadishu and provincial Baidoa town, the seat of Somalia's weak interim government.

Copyright Reuters, 2006