Mogadishu toll hits 83 as fighting continues
Somali militants take positions during clashes with government soldiers and African Union peacekeepers in southern Mogadishu's Hodon neighborhood on Wednesday. Fighting in Somalia's capital flared for a third straight day Wednesday, killing eight people and pushing the week's death toll past 80 as insurgents tried to force government troops back toward the presidential palace. (AP)
By ABDI SHEIKH | REUTERS
Published: Aug 25, 2010 22:47 Updated: Aug 25, 2010 23:48
MOGADISHU: Somali insurgents pushed toward the presidential palace late on Tuesday but were repelled by heavy shelling by government troops, an army officer said on Wednesday.
More than 80 people have been killed in the latest escalation of violence in the capital Mogadishu, which began on Monday when the Al-Shabab group vowed to intensify its holy war against the fragile government.
The Al-Qaeda-linked militants said they were behind a shooting rampage in a hotel on Tuesday that killed at least 33 people including members of parliament.
One military officer said the insurgents attacked government troops based near Villa Somalia, the presidential palace, in large numbers but were outgunned by the African Union's (AU) AMISOM peacekeeping force.
"They came close tonight but behind us are AMISOM tanks and at last we drove them away," army officer Issa Ali, who had been fighting in the frontline overnight, told Reuters.
Residents said bursts of automatic gunfire and the thuds of mortars could still be heard early on Wednesday morning.
"At least 83 people have died in the last three days, including the hotel blast, and 163 others were wounded," Ali Muse, the coordinator of ambulance service told Reuters.
Tuesday night's fighting was centered on the government-controlled neighborhoods of Hodan and Wardhiglry. Al-Shabab and a second militant group, Hizbul Islam, control much of the capital, hemming President Sheikh Sharif's beleaguered government into just a few blocks.
The AU's peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi concentrate their efforts on shielding the president and guarding the port and airport.
Somali militants take positions during clashes with government soldiers and African Union peacekeepers in southern Mogadishu's Hodon neighborhood on Wednesday. Fighting in Somalia's capital flared for a third straight day Wednesday, killing eight people and pushing the week's death toll past 80 as insurgents tried to force government troops back toward the presidential palace. (AP)
By ABDI SHEIKH | REUTERS
Published: Aug 25, 2010 22:47 Updated: Aug 25, 2010 23:48
MOGADISHU: Somali insurgents pushed toward the presidential palace late on Tuesday but were repelled by heavy shelling by government troops, an army officer said on Wednesday.
More than 80 people have been killed in the latest escalation of violence in the capital Mogadishu, which began on Monday when the Al-Shabab group vowed to intensify its holy war against the fragile government.
The Al-Qaeda-linked militants said they were behind a shooting rampage in a hotel on Tuesday that killed at least 33 people including members of parliament.
One military officer said the insurgents attacked government troops based near Villa Somalia, the presidential palace, in large numbers but were outgunned by the African Union's (AU) AMISOM peacekeeping force.
"They came close tonight but behind us are AMISOM tanks and at last we drove them away," army officer Issa Ali, who had been fighting in the frontline overnight, told Reuters.
Residents said bursts of automatic gunfire and the thuds of mortars could still be heard early on Wednesday morning.
"At least 83 people have died in the last three days, including the hotel blast, and 163 others were wounded," Ali Muse, the coordinator of ambulance service told Reuters.
Tuesday night's fighting was centered on the government-controlled neighborhoods of Hodan and Wardhiglry. Al-Shabab and a second militant group, Hizbul Islam, control much of the capital, hemming President Sheikh Sharif's beleaguered government into just a few blocks.
The AU's peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi concentrate their efforts on shielding the president and guarding the port and airport.
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