MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Residents of a Mogadishu suburb clashed with Hizbul Islam rebels yesterday after the insurgents arrested a headmaster who raised a Somali flag over his school.

Witnesses said some residents grabbed weapons and fired at the Hizbul gunmen after a protest against the group turned violent in Elasha, nine miles southwest of the capital.

Residents said the insurgents shot back, wounding at least two people.

The incident was a rare example of Somali civilians standing up to heavily-armed insurgents who rule much of the country.

Hundreds of students and local people had taken to the streets after Hizbul Islam fighters stormed Elasha's Ibnu Kuzeima secondary school, replaced the blue Somali flag with a black Islamist banner and then dragged away the principal.

"Residents took out their guns. Fighting is going on and I don't think it will stop," shopkeeper Aden Hussein told Reuters.

The demonstrators burned tyres and chanted: "We don't want destructive Hizbul Islam. Down with them. They are destroyers."

Hizbul officials later released the headmaster but the situation degenerated as residents began shooting at them.