Residents in Somali town resist al-Shabaab taxes, 10 dead

Clashes between the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab and villagers in a central Somali town have left 10 people dead and dozens wounded, say local residents.

The fighting erupted on Monday after al-Shabaab fighters who control the port town of Harardhere ordered nomadic villagers to pay a tax, said resident Ahmed Mohamed.

Harardhere's inhabitants, who have lost hundreds of animals in the current drought, dismissed the demand, leading to fighting between the two sides, he said.

Six militants and four residents have been killed in the ongoing fighting, he said.