Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi has sacked four Mogadishu based ministers who have been involved in latest violence with Islamic courts militia over control of the bullet-riddled capital, a government official confirmed on Monday.

Government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said National Security Minister Mohamed Afrah Qanyare, Commerce Minister Musa Sudi Yalahow, Militia Rehabilitation Minister Issa Botan Alin and Religious Affairs Minister Omar Muhamoud Finnish were sacked late Sunday after defying orders to stop fighting.

"The four were sacked during a council of ministers meeting chaired by the prime minister on Sunday. The four have been involved in the deadly violence in Mogadishu and defied government orders to stop fighting militia of the Islamic courts," said Dinari by telephone from Baidoa, the current seat of the transitional government.

At least 15 people were killed during fighting in Somalia Sunday, as Islamic fighters seized a key town near the capital, Mogadishu.

Islamic militia members took over the Balad township after fighting with a faction in Somalia's alliance of warlords, which describes itself as a counter-terrorism force.

Balad is important because it is on the road between Mogadishu and the fertile agricultural regions of Middle and Lower Shabelle.

Analysts say it is the biggest victory for the Islamic militia since fighting broke out early this year.

Balad had been under the control of one of the groups in the warlord alliance that many in Somalia believe is backed by the United States.

The United States has refused to confirm or deny that claim.

Fighting between the warring sides has killed more than 320 people in Mogadishu since the beginning of the year.

The Islamic courts say they can bring order to Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for more than 15 years.

Source: Xinhua