MOGADISHU - Somalia said on Thursday it had pulled federal troops out of the southwestern Lower Juba region, after clashes with local forces from Jubbaland state which has broken off ties with the central government.

Somali troops have retreated from positions in the semi-autonomous southern Jubaland region following clashes with regional forces, Mogadishu said Thursday. Conflict-weary Somalia is a federation of five semi-autonomous member states -- Puntland,

Somalia withdrew federal troops from Lower Juba after clashes with Jubbaland forces, which severed ties with the central government. Jubbaland's re-election of its president led to a standoff and subsequent withdrawal to prevent further bloodshed.

In the wider fight against al Shabaab, the mandate of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) expires in less than three weeks and no agreement has been reached on which countries will contribute to the follow-on peacekeeping mission or how it will be financed.

The Somali army and forces loyal to the semi-autonomous southern Jubaland region have clashed, Somali government and military officials said Wednesday.

Clashes erupted on Wednesday between forces from Somalia’s federal government and the semi-autonomous Jubbaland region, raising concerns that internal rivalries are diverting attention from

Clashes erupted on Wednesday between forces from Somalia's federal government and the semi-autonomous Jubbaland region.

Fighting has erupted between forces from Somalia's semi-autonomous Jubbaland region and federal government forces, officials said on Wednesday, in an escalation of tensions after Jubbaland held elections against the federal government's advice.