Mogadishu: Residents of Mogadishu say heavy fighting has broken out between pro-government troops and militants who still control small pockets of Somalia`s capital.
The spokesman for the African Union force, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, said on Monday that the attacks are meant to push militants from the al-Shabab militant group out of range of civilians. Ankunda said that 12 civilians were killed Sunday from militant attacks. Ali Haji, a Mogadishu resident, said he saw Somali soldiers stationed near the fighting. He said residents were fleeing. Last week, al-Shabab unleashed a suicide attack in Mogadishu that killed more than 100 people. On Sunday, thousands of Mogadishu residents held a rare rally to protest the bombing.
Bureau Report