Jowhar, (insidesomalia.org)-Tension is high in the strategic town of Jowhar, 90km north of Mogadishu, two days after factions of opposition militia clashed in the area, locals told IRIN.

The weekend clashes pitted militias of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), which support the Djibouti agreement with the Transitional Federal Government, against a faction of the opposition Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia. In June the TFG and a faction of the Eritrea-based alliance signed an agreement in Djibouti on the cessation of hostilities.

"There is fear in the town that the clashes will resume and will be worse than what happened on Sunday," said a local resident, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals.

The two sides, he added, were in talks mediated by religious leaders from Mogadishu. "They have been talking for the last two days and so far no results."

Another source said the UIC militia, which has controlled the town since February, had split. "One side supports Sheikh Sharif [Sheikh Ahmed, the former leader of the UIC], and the agreement; while the other side is opposed," he said. "This is our worst nightmare. We were enjoying a few months of peace and now this."

A Somali political observer who did not want to be named told IRIN: "It was inevitable that they [Islamic Courts] would splinter.” He said there were forces that had been trying to split them "and what happened in Jowhar is a precursor of things to come".

The Islamists, he warned, were only unified by their opposition to the Ethiopian presence: "The only thing holding them together is the presence of the Ethiopians. Once that is out of the way there will be more splits."

A splintered UIC was, however, not in the best interest of peace and stability of Somalia.

"One side alone will never bring peace to Somalia," he said. "Every effort must be made to make sure we don’t end up with so many versions of the courts that there will be no one to talk to."

However, Sheikh Abdirahman Hassan Hussein, deputy governor of Middle Shabelle and a supporter of Sheikh Ahmed, told IRIN the differences between the two groups were being exaggerated. "We do have differences but they are not insurmountable. We are talking and inshallah we will find the right solution."

He said there would be no more clashes "and Islamic forces will not add to the suffering of our people. We already have over a million displaced by the enemy. We won't add to that."

Sheikh Abukar Ali, a member of the regional administration, who opposes the Djibouti agreement, told IRIN Radio that the courts "are in the process of finding a solution to their differences".

Ali said that Islamic forces are disciplined "and will not be the cause of any additional suffering."

He promised that they will welcome anyone who wants to help the people, "whether Somali or Foreign," he added.

A local journalist told IRIN the two sides were still holding their positions, "with no movement of forces by either side".

The Alliance is split between the wing currently in Djibouti, which favours talks despite the Ethiopian forces, and those in Asmara who insist the Ethiopians must leave before any dialogue takes place.

Since fighting between Ethiopian-backed Somali forces and insurgents began in early 2007, about one million Somalis have fled their homes. Some 8,000 civilians have been killed.

The UN estimates that 3.2 million Somalis need assistance.

Source: Irin