The clashes between Al-Qaeda's Syrian branch Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have prompted 60,000 people to flee towns in the oil-rich province.

The Observatory said 58 militants on both sides had been killed in the clashes on Monday, along with five civilians.

The deaths bring to 150 the toll since the latest confrontation between the groups erupted last week in Deir Ezzor, bordering Iraq.

The Syrian militant groups’ infighting has killed around 4,000 people, according to the Britain-based Observatory.

The two militant groups have continued to clash despite a call from Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri for an end to hostilities.

In an audio recording released on Friday, Zawahiri urged Al-Nusra to stop fighting ISIL and focus on battling the Syrian government.

He also a repeated a call for ISIL to restrict its activities to Iraq, a plea that the group has rejected on several occasions.

NJF/NJF