Somalia's hardline insurgent group Al-Shabaab has said that it has seized the control of a southern Somali town from their rival Hizbul Islam group.

The group said in a statement that the fall of the town come after its fighters entered the town with out any military confrontation with their main rival group Hizbul Islam.

"....fighters from the Islamic administration of Jubba have seized the control of Afmadow town in Lower Jubba region," said the statement issued by the group's Press Office.

Residents said the situation is tense with heavily armed fighters patrolling the centre of the town and the ousted forces are reportedly regrouping in the outskirts.

Reports said that overnight clashes between the two groups have killed more than 13 people and injured several others in a village near the town.

This latest development revives the bitter war between the two groups, which have been involved in efforts to topple the fragile UN-backed Somali government.

Relation between the two groups has disintegrated after Al-Shabaab unilaterally formed a new administration for Kismayo, a lucrative southern Somali port city that is source for insurgence activities across the war-torn country.