MOGADISHU (Mareeg)—Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam rebels fought for the first time between them in Yaqshid district in Mogadishu overnight, witnesses say.

Residents say the fighting started after Hizbul Islam rebels attacked Yaqshid police station, where al Shabaab militias are based.

The two sides have used heavy machine guns in the fighting. Some reports suggest that al Shabaab was chased out of the police station.

The casualties of the fighting are not known since the fighting between the two groups started at night. The fighting comes their first one in Mogadishu but the two groups fought in Kismayo and near by towns before.

The two groups are fighting to topple the UN recognized government led by president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed.

Mareeg Online