An Islamic militia that seized Somalia’s capital this week began talks with the country’s largely powerless UN-backed government today, the latest sign of the fundamentalists’ growing influence as Somalia tries to emerge from 16 years of anarchy.

An Islamic militia with alleged al-Qaida links has seized Somalia’s capital Mogadishu after weeks of bloody fighting with US-backed secular warlords, raising fears that the nation could fall under the sway of Osama bin Laden’s terrorist organisation.

An Islamic militia today said it had seized Somalia’s capital Mogadishu after weeks of some of the bloodiest fighting in 15 years of anarchy in the lawless Horn of Africa nation.

Fighters loyal to an Islamic militia and their secular rivals manoeuvred heavily armed trucks around city streets and reinforced their positions in Somalia’s capital early today, following a battle that residents said was the most widespread fighting in 14 years.

Rival militia battled with rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and assault rifles for control of part of the Somali capital Mogadishu for a third straight day. Fighting has killed at least 75 people and wounded more than 100, according to medical workers.