Somali fighters attack AU troops

24/05/2009| IslamWeb

Opposition fighters in Somalia's capital Mogadishu have fired mortar bombs at the presidential palace and attacked African Union (AU) peacekeepers.

Fighting raged on Saturday night leaving three people dead near Makara Market.

At least 45 people had been killed in clashes a day earlier.

A senior Burundian officer told the Reuters news agency: "Opposition groups have attacked us with rocket-propelled grenades. They are still firing at us and we shall defend ourselves."

Hizbul Islam and al-Shabab fighters have in recent days intensified their offensive against the new government of Sharif Ahmed, the Somali president.

In recent weeks, the Somali government has stepped up attacks against the opposition fighters to try to regain lost ground.

Mohamed Abdi Gandi, Somalia's defense minister, said: "It was our plan to make peace in our country and restore law and order.

"Our security forces, with the help of our people in the operation, have reached their target and are in defensive positions."

A human rights group said a lull in the violence on Saturday saw many residents fleeing, joining 49,000 others who have left the city.

'Wounded civilians'

Ali Addeh, deputy director of Medina Hospital, said he had received 195 wounded civilians, 21 of whom had been discharged after treatment.

Heavy gunfire and explosions could still be heard as people fled.

The AU, which has some 4,300 peacekeepers from Burundi and Uganda in Mogadishu, is protecting key sites but its mandate limits the force to defending itself when attacked.

Islamist fighters took up arms in 2007 to drive out Ethiopian troops propping up a Western-backed government which failed to wield control over much of Somalia.

Since the start of 2007, fighting has killed at least 17,700 civilians and driven more than one million from their homes.

About three million Somalis survive on emergency food aid.

The Ethiopians withdrew at the start of 2009 leaving Somalia in chaos and with virtually no central government.

PHOTO CAPTION

Residents flee from renewed clashes between Somali government forces and fighters in Somalia's capital Mogadishu May 23, 2009.

Agencies