Mogadishu,Sunatimes- Sporadic clashes between rival Somali extremists Al shabab and Hezbal Islam have killed at least 23 militants from both sides in Mogadishu since late Monday, sources close to them confirmed.

The fighting took place in villages along the high 30^{th street in Mogadishu and sources close to the militants indicate that the fighting broke out after both sides disagreed over administrative power in areas controlled by the Hezbal Islam militants which Alshabab wants to take over.}

An Al shabab militia commander Abu Mohamed Al Azhari who was reached for comment said that his fighters are determent to oust what he called those who don’t regularly comply with Islamic laws.

He accused Hezbal Islam of not acting on a regular Sharia law and that they have to take over all areas under their control from them. Last month Al shabab militants took over the control of the central Hiiraan region from its former ally Hezbal Islam after a day-long fighting between them.

Tension has been mounting between both Islamist groups since October last year, when they fought over the control of the key southern port town of Kismayo which finally fell into the hands of the notorious Al shabab militants, the Alqaeda-proxy in Somalia.

Mean while, uneasy calm has returned to areas in the northeastern parts of the capital Mogadishu where the Alqaeda-linked militants and Somali government forces have been fighting for the past week, the fighting killed more than 90 people mainly civilians