15 killed in fighting between Somalian troops and militia

At least 15 people have been killed and more than 20 others injured in two days of fighting in Somalia.

The fighting took place between government troops and militia loyal to a Mogadishu faction leader.

Clashes spread from the government's military training camp to residential areas.

Fighting began Friday when militia loyal to Muse Sude Yalahow attacked a military training camp and looted assault rifles, says Dahir Dayah, interior minister of the transitional government.

However, Yalahow claimed that the fighting was triggered when government forces attacked his senior officials, adding that two of his militiamen were killed in the clashes.

"We are a government of reconciliation, we don't want fighting," Dayar told reporters. "We're ready to talk to any warlord or opposition leader anywhere, any time, and we put no preconditions for the opening of any such dialogue."

A government official, who asked that his name not be used, says ceasefire talks are underway. There is no immediate comment from Musa Sude.

Somalia's transitional government was chosen a year ago at a peace conference in neighbouring Djibouti. Somalia had been without a central government for a decade.

The Horn of Africa nation descended into chaos after opposition leaders who ousted dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 turned on each other.

Clan-based factional fighting reduced the country of seven million into battling fiefdoms ruled by heavily armed militias.