The town of Bardhere, 400 km west of Mogadishu, is reported to be generally calm two days after heavy fighting broke out there. The fighting on Tuesday pitted forces of the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA), which supports the Transitional National Government (TNG), and those of the opposition Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC), led by General Muhammad Sa'id Hirsi Morgan. Our sources claim the town is relatively calm "with most of the businesses open". There is less military activity.

The JVA was holding at least 68 SRRC prisoners in Bardhere. Most of them belong to the Rahanweyn and Biyamal clans. The confirmed death toll now stood at 18, including one child and one woman killed in crossfire inside the town. The rest were combatants.

The SRRC forces are regrouping at Qansahdhere town, 120 km northeast of Bardhere, while the JVA forces took up defensive positions at Shanqoley village, 35 km northeast of Bardhere. Both sides are waiting for reinforcements and ammunition and everyone here is expecting another bout of fighting in the near future, if not in Bardhere, then somewhere else in the region.