At least two people were killed in fighting between rival northern Somali regions, officials in one of the enclaves, Somaliland, said on Saturday.
Somaliland rural development minister Fuad Aden Adde said two of his fighters were killed on Friday by forces of the rival Puntland zone in Tifafle village, 10 km (six miles) north of the town of Las Anod, a town claimed by both regions.
Adde said four Somaliland people including his brother Hussein Aden Adde, a clan leader, were taken prisoner.
Residents in the area told reporters two Puntland fighters were also killed. There was no immediate confirmation of the report.
The neighbours have fought sporadic clashes for years over the ownership of several eastern regions of Somaliland that Puntland's leaders claim as their own on the basis of ethnicity.
UN development and relief organisations have expressed concern at growing tension between the two regions and say any conflict could destabilise talks taking place in Kenya between Somali warlords aimed at bringing peace to Somalia as a whole.
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