More than 20 civilians killed in Mogadishu

More than 20 civilians were killed yesterday in a second day of intense fighting between Somali government troops and insurgent forces in the capital Mogadishu, a medical source said.
The government troops backed by African Union peacekeepers raided a position held by the insurgents in the north of the war-riven capital, sparking the heavy firefight.
“The civilian casualty [toll] is very high today. We counted more than 20 civilians who were killed this morning alone,” head of Mogadishu ambulance services Ali Muse told AFP.
“The medical staff collected around 83 civilians who were injured in the crossfire and the mortars and artillery shells.”
Somali government security official Mohamed Nur said their forces overran the rebels’ base in the same neighbourhood as the Al Qaeda-linked Shebab fighters attacked them on Wednesday.
At least 23 civilians were killed in Wednesday’s clashes.
“We have taken control of the position of the terrorists where they used to arrange their attacks. Our forces, getting assistance from the African peacekeepers, are now gaining military momentum in northern Mogadishu,” Nur said.
“The enemy completely emptied their positions here in northern Mogadishu after being forced to retreat. Three of our soldiers are injured so far,” Nur added.
Since taking control of much of Mogadishu after bloody clashes last year, the hardline rebels have repeatedly carried out deadly attacks against the peacekeepers and the government troops.
Civilians have borne the worst brunt of the relentless fighting, many of them caught in crossfire or killed by mortar shells fired in retaliation to attacks by the insurgents who operate in residential areas.
The Shebab, who control 80 percent of south and central Somalia, vowed to topple the internationally-backed government, which owes its survival to the African Union forces.
Somalia has been wracked by two decades of bloody violence sparked by the ouster of president Mohamed Siad Barre.