Residents of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, are bracing themselves for renewed fighting between the forces of the Transitional National Government (TNG) and those of opposition faction leaders, a local source told IRIN on Monday.

The fighting initially broke out last Friday when militia loyal to Muhammad Habeb, better known as Muhammad Dhere, attacked the house of Dahir Shaykh Dayah, the TNG interior minister. Dayah's security detail was overwhelmed and the minister's house looted and destroyed, a north Mogadishu resident, Muhammad Tahlil, said at the time.

The fighting, which by Friday afternoon, had spread to most parts of north Mogadishu, had reportedly drawn in the forces of Mogadishu faction leader Muse Sudi Yalahow, in support of Muhammad Dhere's militia.

The fighting had died down by Friday evening, but "there is a feeling among residents, that this is the lull before the storm", a humanitarian source in Mogadishu told IRIN on Monday. "Both sides have reportedly been busy mobilising, with TNG uniformed military highly visible in the city in the last couple of days."

Life in north Mogadishu was returning to a semblance of normality after Friday's heavy fighting, a local businessman in north Mogadishu, which was epicentre of the fighting, told IRIN. "There is a tense calm today, but no one expects it to last," said Abdi Ahmad. "Muse [Sudi] and Muhammad Dhere are beating the drums, and the TNG seems willing this time to take them on. I cannot see how they can avert another clash - a much more serious one."

Muhammad Dhere, who admitted to attacking the minister's house, was quoted as saying that "the attack is just the beginning of a wider war aimed at eliminating the Arta faction [TNG]", Mogadishu-based Hornafrik radio reported on 25 May.

Interior Minister Dahir Dayah told IRIN the TNG's policy was to resolve issues "through dialogue and peaceful means". However, he said, "this does not mean, that if attacked we will not defend ourselves". "We have the capacity and means to defend ourselves," he added. Dayah said the TNG was determined to ensure the safety and security of its officials and the general public. "We will never again tolerate nor allow what happened on Friday to happen again," he stressed.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has called on all parties to the recent conflict in Somalia to refrain from violence and resolve their differences peacefully, a Security Council statement said on 24 May.

The Council called on all regional actors to give their "unequivocal commitment" to the peace efforts for Somalia and to refrain from any negative actions, including those which might compromise Somalia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.