Mogadishu — Somali government soldiers have on Tuesday exchanged heavy gunfire with armed groups in Mogadishu, reports and Witnesses said.

Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Mohammed Abukar, the police chief of Hodon district for Somali government, told Shabelle Media that the combat sparked after the security forces attacked on an armed bloc dressed in army uniform, taking illegal money at a checkpoint in Mogadishu's district.

"The security forces have detained a gang during the operation and handed him to Somali military court to face the justice over his involvement in robbing action against civilians inMogadishu," said Abukar.

It is not the first time that government soldiers disagreed and exchange gunfire in Mogadishu.