Mogadishu fighting death toll hits 100,AU Mission Blames Weekend Somalia Fighting on Anti-Peace Forces

Translation
MOGADISHU — the death toll of Mogadishu fighting has hit 100 people as witnesses and emergency service workers confirmed on Monday. A mortar shell hit a mosque in the Somali capital Mogadishu, killing at least 65 people and raising to 100 the death toll from fighting between Islamist rebels and government forces that flared up on Thursday in Mogadishu. Medics said at least 200 people were wounded in the fighting which has been continuing in Mogadishu for the last four days. The mosque was hit just as worshippers were filing in for the afternoon prayers, witnesses said. The fighting -- with both sides using heavy machine guns, artillery and anti-aircraft weapons -- erupted on Thursday, but escalated on Saturday as the two sides clashed over key positions in the war-ravaged Mogadishu.
The Islamist Al-Shabaab rebels said they had taken control of the most contested areas in southern Mogadishu. Witnesses saidTerrorist Al Shabaab erected their black flag in the areas they captured from the pro government Islamists. WARNING! barbarous massacre , Gruesome pictures
http://www.calanka.com/Wararki-Maanta/warka27501 more..http://www.waagacusub.com/news/11.05.09.4.htm

AU Mission Blames Weekend Somalia Fighting on Anti-Peace Forces
Weekend fighting in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, described by some accounts as the worst in weeks has reportedly killed 35 people. Mortars and machine-gun fire reportedly pounded Mogadishu as residents fled the city seeking safety.
Major Barigye Bahoku, spokesman for the African Union Mission in Somalia told VOA the fighting was between pro-government Islamist fighters and gunmen seeking to overthrow President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed's new government.
"There have been some skirmishes in Mogadishu, especially in the northern suburbs and parts of Mogadishu for about couple days ago. And the information we have does indicate that the forces of government on the one side and the forces opposed to the peace process on the other side and the clan militias who can fall on either side, are the ones who have been involved in these skirmishes," he said.
Bahoku said part of AMISOM's assignment is to create the atmosphere for rival Somali groups to dialogue, but he said there were forces still opposed to peace in Somalia.
"I think some people do read it wrongly, the mandate of AMISOM. The mandate of AMISOM is to let these people talk, but how far can we go to convince all the sides at any one time to talk. First of all, if lawlessness and the lack of security in Somalia have been going on for about 19 years, and so even when some people have seriously taken the peace process on course and they are talking, there are others who don't fall under the command or control of anyone…so when you say what is AMISOM doing, yes AMISOM has been trying to create conditions for all these people to talk. But as everyone knows, not all the forces have brought on board. There are forces who still opposed to the process," he said...more..http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2009-05-11-voa4.cfm