BRAVA, Somalia, June 20 (UPI) -- Six al-Shabaab militants were killed during clashes between rival factions of militant Islamist group in the coastal Somali town of Brava, officials said.
The cause of the clashes was unknown, but were the first between rival factions of al-Shabaab since the group began its insurgency in 2006 to create an Islamic state in Somalia, CNN reported Thursday.
There has been an inner struggle between al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane and ex-spokesman Muktar Ali Robow, analysts say.
Meanwhile, al-Shabaab spokesman Ali Dheere has denied the group has taken part in clashes in Brava, calling reports on the situation there "propaganda" and "lies."
On Wednesday, an al-Shabaab attack on U.N. offices in Mogadishu killed at least 15 people, CNN said. A car bomb was detonated outside the building, which was followed by a battle between militants and security guards in the U.N. compound.
