Fierce fighting in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu has killed at least 15 civilians and wounded dozens more on Friday, according to eye witnesses and hospital sources.
The fighting which continued for the third consecutive day in areas in the north east of the capital has been raging between Somalia’s national unity government and the allied malitias of Al Shabab and Hezbal Islam.
Hundreds of families have been seen fleeing from their homes in the Shibis, Karan and Abdel Aziz neighborhoods which have been experiencing one of the heaviest battles for the past three days.
Islamist fighters have occupied new key positions in the north east of the city after the government forces were forced to retreat.
Spokesman for the Hezbal Islam millitants Sheik Muse Abdi Arale told APA on Friday that his men and other Mujahideens of AL Shabab have defeated government forces in many areas and will end the fighting in the capital within days.
“I am now in the frontline, the Mujahideens have the upper hand and we will finally succeed if Allah says,” he said as the sound of heavy gunfire could be heard in the background.
At the end of African Union summit in the Libyan town of Sirte, the AU strengthened the mandate of its forces who have been in the Somali capital for the last two and half years.
The none combatant forces who were deployed into Somalia early in 2007 were due to reach 8,000 strong men in number, but at least 4,500 troops from Uganda and Burundi have yet been deployed into the lawless country.
Troops from other countries including : Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Malawi are expected to join the AU Mission in Somalia, while the two troop contributing nations Uganda and Burundi declared they are willing to send other battalions.
The country has been experiencing one of the world’s bloodiest armed confrontations for the last two decades of lack of a functioning central government in the war-ravaged horn of African nation.
Source African Press Agency
