Somalia: Mogadishu Violence Claims Seven

15 November 2009

At least seven people have been killed and 11 others injured in heavy clashes between African Union peacekeeping forces and Somali insurgent fighters in the restive capital Mogadishu, witnesses said on Sunday.

The fighting erupted on Saturday night after heavily armed insurgent fighters carried out surprise attack on Burundian troops based at Jalle Siad Military base north of Mogadishu.

"Several mortar shells slammed into residential areas near the base. I have seen five dead people who were killed in the fighting. Also some civilians were injured in mortar shells attack," said Musa Alasow, one of Daynile resident.

A spokesman for Burundian forces confirmed that several mortars shells landed inside their base, only causing the slight injuries of two soldiers.

"The attack was a surprise one, several mortar shells landed inside the base and slightly injured two of our soldiers," said Col. Jesus Tito, the spokesman for Burundi forces in Mogadishu.

Al-Shabaab group is yet to comment about the latest attacks, which claimed two of its fighters.

Some 5000- strong AU troops, comprised of Ugandan and Burundian soldiers have been deployed in the restive capital in 2007 as part of internationally backed efforts to stabilize Somalia, which has weathered 18 years of anarchy.

The embattled peacekeepers are restricted in guarding the Presidential palace and few strategic sites such as airport and seaport in Mogadishu, helping the weak but internationally recognized government fight militant groups in the restive capital.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/200911160433.html.