Calm has returned to the Somali capital Mogadishu after 11 people were killed and 20 wounded in weekend fighting

BBC News:

The clashes pitted militia belonging to the Islamic courts against owners of cinemas showing dubbed Bollywood films.

The Islamic courts have been attempting to control the activities of the cinemas - accusing them of fuelling crime, drug abuse and immorality.

Somalia has been without a central government for 14 years. A transitional authority has failed to end anarchy.

The heavy firing in Yaqshid district could be heard all over Mogadishu.

Last month, the court's militia stormed a studio where Bollywood films were being translated and destroyed equipment.

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the chairman of the Islamic courts, says they open from early in the morning showing "scandalous movies to children even not allowed by producers in their home country".

With Somalia's new government split between Mogadishu and the alternative capital, Jowhar, the courts are flexing their muscles in the power vacuum, correspondents say.

Some ministers, including the speaker of parliament and former warlords, have based themselves in Mogadishu and refused to move to Jowhar.

The Islamic courts militias have also been targeting banditry gaining them some public support. However, some Mogadishu residents accuse the courts of applying an extreme form of Sharia law.

Last weekend, visiting Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi survived an assassination attempt on only his second visit to Mogadishu since he was sworn in.

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