A senior militia commander of Hizbul Islam rebels was gunned down in southern Somalia Wednesday, Radio Garowe reports.

Somali clan elders in Tiyeglow district, in the southwestern Bakool region near the Ethiopian border, confirmed that Hizbul Islam's militia chief in Bakool region.

A Hizbul Islam source said: "The man who was killed was our chief. We suspect that Al Shabaab is responsible for his killing."

Recently, Al Shabaab commanders warned Hizbul Islam fighters to "vacate" Tiyeglow district, where Hizbul Islam was attempting to establish an administration.

Tensions have been high between Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam insurgents since the beginning of October, after the two insurgent factions fought over control of the southern port of Kismayo.

Both groups have vowed to overthrow the UN-backed Somali interim government