Somali militiamen have fired shots in the air to disperse hundreds of people protesting a new Islamic administration in the key southern seaport of Kismayo.

Witnesses say scores of people took to the streets late Friday, burning tires and blocking roads after the Islamists appointed a new governor, mayor and heads of the airport, port and the city's overall security.

Islamic authorities say about 30 protesters were detained.

The protesters said the Islamists had not shared power fairly when picking the port's new leadership.

The protest was the fourth against the Islamists since they seized Somalia's third-largest city on September 25.

The Islamic movement took control of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, from warlords in June and now controls much of the south of the country.

Somalia has been without a functioning central authority for the past 16 years. An interim government based in the town of Baidoa, the latest in numerous international attempts to restore stability, has not been able to assert control outside its base.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.