KISMAYU (Somalia), Aug 22: Islamist rebels seized control of a port in southern Somalia on Friday after the worst fighting that started on Wednesday killed 70 people, residents said.

The last two days have been particularly bloody even by the Horn of Africa nation’s standards, with the insurgents battling a pro-government militia in the southern port of Kismayu and similar clashes breaking out in the capital Mogadishu.

“Heavily-armed Islamists have taken control of Kismayu and the situation is now calm,” a local, Omar Hassan, said.

“I cannot see the militiamen and some people say they have escaped. The Islamists are now addressing the people and the shooting has stopped,” he said by telephone.

Local rights activists and residents said 70 people died in fighting that started on Wednesday. Scores were wounded.

The al-Shabaab rebel group has been waging an Iraq-style insurgency of mortar attacks, roadside bombings and assassinations targeting Somalia’s interim government and its Ethiopian military allies since the start of last year.

Nationwide, the violence has killed more than 8,000 civilians and driven another 1 million from their homes.

The government signed a peace deal with some opposition figures on Monday, but that agreement had already been rejected by al-Shabaab and other opposition hardliners.

The manager of Kismayu general hospital, Abdi Ahmed Sugule, said there was only one doctor and a handful of nurses on duty.—AFP