Heavy fighting rocks Mogadishu
22/12/2007 22:22  - (SA)  

Want to know more? Answerit can help.

AU issues Somali warning 12 killed in mortar attacks 12 soldiers wounded in Somalia 'Somalis can solve problems' Sex violence 'part of the game' Hopes for Somali peace 'doomed' UN chief begs for Somalia aid Mogadishu deaths at 6 000

Mogadishu - Mortar blasts and machine-gun fire rocked the Somali capital on Saturday as Ethiopia-backed Somali troops fought with rebels, shattering a brief lull after months of heavy clashes.

Shells crashed into southern and northern Mogadishu, including residential areas. It was not immediately clear whether anyone had been killed.

Islamist militants have waged an insurgency in Mogadishu since they were defeated by Ethiopian and Somali forces early this year, ending their brief rule in the country's southern and central regions.

The deadly insurgency has forced hundreds of thousands of people to leave Mogadishu in recent months, according to the United Nations, prompting warnings of an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.

Aid groups have said that insecurity is choking off efforts to deliver humanitarian supplies to those affected.

Numerous bids to restore stability to the Horn of Africa nation since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre have failed because of clan warfare and unrest.

What is this? Yahoo Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Brought to you by OUTsurance Car Insurance
	News24 Headlines on your Facebook profile		News24 on mobile