Somalia peace overture rejected

Somalia's president has appealed to Islamist insurgents to negotiate as intermittent fighting continued for an eighth day in the capital, Mogadishu.

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed told the BBC the clashes were displacing thousands of the city's residents each day.But his former ally and Islamist spiritual leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys rejected his overture.He told the BBC talks were not possible while African Union troops were in the city where they are guarding key sites.The United Nations refugee agency says about 30,000 people have been forced from their homes in the last week.It is estimated more than 100 lives have been lost since a combined force of militant Islamic groups Al-Shabaab and Hisbul-Islam, which are accused of links with al-Qaeda - launched their offensive...more..http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8051651.stm