The president of Somalia's semiautonomous region of Puntland flew from the port city of Bossaso Tuesday en route to neighboring Ethiopia.

President Mohamud "Adde" Muse's delegation included his newly-appointed minister of security, Gen. Abdullahi Said Samatar, on this official trip to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Before departing from Bossaso, President Muse told reporters that he would hold extensive talks with various Ethiopian government officials regarding security issues and common trade.

While in Addis Ababa, the Puntland leader would also meet with interim Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf. The two Somali officials are supposed to discuss federal-regional relations, with Muse hinting to reporters that the issue of Las Anod might come up during his discussions with the Somali president.

Las Anod, the provincial capital of Sool region, was captured last October by rival troops from the separatist region of Somaliland. Muse maintained that Las Anod is part of Puntland and reiterated his vows to retake the town by force.

Meanwhile, rival militiamen fought each other in the outskirts of the Puntland city of Galkayo after a violent disagreement erupted, leading to 5 deaths and more than 7 wounded.

The fighting started after one group of gunmen attempted to forcefully stop and hold hostage a commercial truck that left the port of Bossaso, in the country's north, and was heading southward to the Hiran provincial capital Beletwein, Galkayo-based Radio Daljir reported today.

The Galkayo gunmen argued that they will hold the Beletwein-bound truck hostage until money that belongs to them is paid back by "people from Hiran."

But the Beletwein-bound truck driver and his armed backers refused to pay, saying that they will not pay for money owed by other people.

Heavy fighting reportedly ensued thereafter, leading to direct intervention from Puntland Justice Minister Abdirisaq Gessod, who succeeded in pulling apart the warring militia fighters.