Clashes kill at least seven in northern Somalia

[Hiiraan boy]

BOSASSO, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Fighting in northern Somalia killed at least seven people on Monday and forced dozens to flee, residents and hospital sources said.

Tensions in the area are high after troops loyal to the rival administrations of Somaliland and Puntland clashed several times last month.

The latest battle took place in Las Anod and prompted many people to escape to Garowe, the administrative capital of the semi-autonomous Puntland region.

"Clan militiamen backing Somaliland opened fire on Puntland troops. Two battlewagons collided and five of the soldiers were killed. I could see it," said resident Ahmed Jama.

Hospital sources said at least two civilians were killed and four wounded in the fighting.

Locals in Puntland said they heard radio stations broadcasting songs encouraging troops to fight.

Somaliland's ties with Puntland have long been strained over the Sool and Sanag regions, part of which Puntland claims on an ethnic basis, while Somaliland says they are part of its territory under the colonial border Britain left.

Somaliland broke away from the rest of Somalia in 1991.

[Phd in naago kudis]

let the blood of puntland water the the grounds of lascooned 8)