Balad — The Islamic Courts Union fighters have taken over the control of Bal'ad town 30 km north Mogadishu after heavy fighting with Al- shabab fighters on Saturday, witnesses told Shabelle radio.

Residents say that the two rival Islamist forces Al shabab and Islamic Courts Union fought in Balad district early on Saturday morning and the fighting has been going on for several hours.

Both sides have used heavy weapons but lastly the Islamic Courts Union fighters took over the control of Bal'ad district in Middle Shabelle region.

The fighting has affected the movement of the transportations and all the businesses in the town have been halted during the fighting.

No casualties have been reported so far and the grounds of the fighting is not known.

No comment bout the fighting has come out yet from the both sides of Al shabab and Islamic Courts Union in Bal'ad district in Middle Shabelle region.