Friday, September 03, 2010
At least 19 people have been killed in fresh fighting between forces loyal to the Western-backed government of Somalia and al-Shabab fighters in Mogadishu.
Somali government troops backed by the African Union peacekeepers came under attack from al-Shabab fighters in northern district of Hodon on Thursday. Two al-Shabab fighters and five Somali government soldiers were among the dead. A number of soldiers from both sides were also injured in the conflict, a Press TV correspondent reported.
Somali government forces look at the dead body of an al-Shabab fighter who was killed during clashes at a checkpoint in southern Mogadishu's Afgoye road on August 26, 2010. |
Meanwhile, 12 people were killed and 14 others injured in heavy fighting between Somali troops and militants in other parts of Mogadishu.
Early Thursday civilians were seen fleeing on foot towards villages on the outskirts of Mogadishu, seizing their chance to escape during a lull in the fighting.
Up to that point, Mogadishu residents were holed up in their houses for several days, fearing they would be hit by bullets once they ventured outside. Almost all the stalls in the city's largest market, Bakara, have remained closed this week, leaving civilians in need of food and water.
Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, when warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. The Somali government has struggled for years to restore security, but efforts have not yet yielded results in the country.
MP/SAR/MGH
Source: PressTV