Hobyo — At least one person was reportedly killed and many others were injured as two heavily armed Somali pirate groups fired at each other in the coastal district Hobyo, Mudug region on Monday morning, reports said.

Witnesses in Hobyo town, north-central Mudug region of Somalia, said the fighting erupted when a bunch of pirates tried to apprehend forcibly another pirate gang in the group, and then started firing guns at each other.

"We woke up this morning hearing the barrage of bullets and sounds of artillery fire exchanging between two groups of Somali pirates in Hobyo town. The fighting continued for hours and one pirate has been slain in that combat, a resident told Shabelle Media via phone from Hobyo.

According to the latest reports indicated that the situation returned to calm and the skirmish subsided. The fighting halted for moment the movement of people and vehicles, frustrating locals.

The town of Honyo in Mudug region of -North-central Somalia is believed to be one of pirates hide outs in the country where they can operate without much interference.

Somali pirates have attacked hundreds of vessels in the Arabian Sea andIndian Ocean region, though most attacks do not result in a successful hijacking.