Somalia’s militant groups are at loggerheads over explosions that targeted their positions in the restive capital Mogadishu.

Al-Shabaab’s spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohammued Raghe aka Ali Dhere pointed the accusing fingers on Hizbul Islam over recent explosions in their strongholds including the capital’s main market Bakara.  

“We have discovered that the people behind the blast at Bakara’s medical stores, fuel centre and recently at the Baar Ubax intersection were affiliated to Hizbul Islam,” he told reporters.

However, his claims were quickly denied by Hizbul Islam spokesman Mohammed Ma’alin Ali who said they have no links whatsoever with the blasts.

"Our group is not behind the blasts that rocked Mogadishu. We view these sentiments as fabrications, because we can’t attack our own positions,” he said, adding that his group is still committed in the unification of the Islamist fighters in the fight against the government and African Union troops.

Al-Shabaab cried foul over recent blasts that target their strongholds, which according to sources were assassination plots against the group’s top officials.

The two armed groups, which are involved in military struggle against the weak transition government, are also engaged in tough tussle over the control of southern Somali regions.

GAROWE ONLINE