Mogadishu — At least one government soldier has been killed and another one has been injured when Somali Islamist insurgents and government soldiers have clashed in Bulo-hubey neighborhood in Wadadjir district in Mogadishu on Thursday, witnesses told Shabelle radio.

Residents say the fighting started after the Islamist insurgents attacked a checkpoint manned by government soldiers.

"Government soldiers were extorting illegal money from the passenger buses that use the streets that connect Media district and Bakaro market in Mogadishu and both militias have exchanged gunfire and hand grenades for few hours killing a government soldier and wounding another in the area," said one resident.

The sound of gunfire could be heard around the areas of the fighting and people got shocked.

Islamist insurgents have been targeting roadside bombs and daily attacks against the Ethiopian and government soldiers in Mogadishu since the Ethiopian troops occupied Mogadishu.

Thousands of civilians have been killed and millions have been displaced from their homes in Mogadishu.