MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali government forces attacked rebel strongholds in Mogadishu on Wednesday, triggering battles that killed at least 17 people, including the capital's police chief, witnesses and officials said.Residents cowered in their homes or took cover behind buildings as mortars slammed into the city.
Islamist fighters wearing headscarves and ammunition belts draped over their shoulders were seen arriving from the outskirts of the capital to join the battle.
The government only controls a few blocks of Mogadishu with the help of an African Union peacekeeping force that guards the air and sea ports and other key government installations. Different Islamic insurgent groups control the rest of Mogadishu, and their goal is to topple Somalia's Western-backed government and install a strict Islamic state.
"A mortar landed on a neighbor's house and killed two people and injured four others," witness Abdiwali Dahir said from one of the two areas of southern Mogadishu where the fighting was under way.
Police spokesman Col. Abdullahi Hassan Barise said Mogadishu police chief Col. Ali Said died in the fighting but was unable to provide details about how that had happened. Said had led the capital's police force for about two years...more..http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090617/ap_on_re_af/af_somaliayahoo.com/s/ap/20090617/ap_on_re_af/af_somalia
Police Chief Killed in Fighting in Somalia 
We offer our sincerest condolences to the families of Mogadishu police chief Ali Said hassan killed in the line of duty,fight against islamic terrorist,Deepest condolences for all the brave soldiers and Police officers who laid down their lives in line of duty the fight against al-Qaida Islamic extremists wing shabaab . we are proud of you .
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