Heavy Fighting And Shelling Kills 15, Injures More Than 65 in North And South of Mogadishu

Published on Wednesday 17th June 2009

At least 15 people have been killed and more than 65 others have been wounded after heavy shelling fighting and shelling between Islamist forces and government soldiers restarted in north and south of the Somali capital Mogadishu, witnesses and officials told Shabelle radio on Wednesday.

Reports say that the fighting had restarted in Waberi and Karan districts especially Dabka intersection, Makka Al-mukara street and many other parts in the north and south of the capital on Wednesday afternoon as both sides used heavy gunfire.

Residents said that the fighting started in Dabka intersection after the Islamist forces attacked the intersection which was a base for the government soldiers addingthe Islamist forces had captured it and controlling for a while.

Several tanks of the African Union troops AMISOM could be seen and around Sayid-ka building as they were shooting Bakara market which caused more casualties including deaths, wounds and loss of property.

"Two girls were wounded in our house and another house near ours when mortar shell landed," a resident woman in Hawl-wadaag district told Shabelle radio by the phone.

On the other hand heavy fighting and shelling had started in Karan district in the north of the Somali capital which the two sides were exchanging heavy gunfire killing three people in Karan as one of the residents told Shabelle radio.

Ali Muse, an emergency traffic official said that they took more than 65 injured people in Karan, Hawl-wadag and Hodan district in north and south of the capital Mogadishu

Freelance journalist told Shabelle radio that at least three women died in a house in Huriwa district as more shells landed many parts of that district.

The heavy shelling and fighting follows after consecutive clashes between the Islamist forces and governments were continuing in the capital the second day in the capital as parts of the people are fleeing their houses due to the fighting.

The situation of the fighting seems calm now. But is it not clear whether it will start again or not.