Somali clan fighting left 7 dead

Published on Sunday 15th June 2008

Somalia: Clashes between two armed factions of the Marehan clan have left seven dead and five injured in Kismayu town, 500 kilometers from Mogadishu.

The two sides clash on a daily basis and now engage in Mortar and anti-missile attacks against each other as well as using gunfire.

Hundreds of thousands of residents are forced to stay in their homes during the daily violence. At least seven civilians have already been killed and five injured in the fighting, Press TV report said.

Elswehere in the Hiiran region, fighting has left three civilians dead and 11 more injured. The wounded were taken to hospital in Hiiran's Balet Weyn region.

Meanwhile, UIC fighters have attacked a government military base in North Mogadishu killing 6 soldiers and carrying off missiles and mortars.

In the attack on the government base near Gal Galato District, 5 anti -aircraft missiles and 20 heavy mortars were taken and seven soldiers captured by the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) Press TV correspondent in Somalia reports.

Meanwhile, Anagary Ethiopians in North Mogadishu have entered Mayor Mohamed Deheere's house in his absence, confiscating heavy weapons found there.

Mayor Deheere, who has condemned UIC attacks on government soldiers, is currently in a Uganda base for his own protection.

On the other hand, UIC spokesman Sheikh Mohmud Sheikh Ibrahim has said Deheere is a uninformed pawn and that the UIC is fighting for the freedom of the Somali nation and will not accept Ethiopian interference.