Mogadishu — Heavy fighting between Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts and militias loyal to Barre Hirale, Somalia's current defense minister is continuing in Buale, southern Somalia.

Residents in the area, who contacted Shabelle through telegram, confirmed to Shabelle about the skirmishes, adding the fighting was quite heavy and residents were fleeing from the war zone.

The fighting comes a day after some of the Courts fighters and militias loyal to them were forced out of Bur Hakaba, 60 km south of Baidoa, the federal government's temporary base.

Bur Hakab was reported calm on Sunday after the federal government forces reportedly backed by Ethiopian forces had captured the town on Saturday.

Barre Hirale was member of Jubba Valley Alliances which broke up after Islamists took over control of the port city of Kismayu where he used administer.

The damages and the casualties of the ongoing war in Buale are still sketchy.