Dozens killed in capital as African Union troops engage rebels advancing on presidential palaceMOGADISHU – Islamic insurgents fought their way toward Somalia's presidential palace yesterday in fighting that killed dozens and wounded about 150, officials said. African Union peacekeepers directly intervened for the first time to support government forces.
Residents said they saw AU troops in armoured vehicles fighting against insurgents in north Mogadishu. Government forces used rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft guns mounted on the back of trucks, which they fired horizontally through the streets. "The fighting in Mogadishu has entered a new phase," said Ali Mohamud Rage, a spokesman for the al-Shabab rebel group, which is believed to have ties to Al Qaeda. Al-Shabab denies any ties. "Now it's between us and the AMISOM," he said, referring to the peacekeeping force's acronym. "AMISOM was backing up the government directly, but we will keep fighting." The city's main Medina hospital was chaotic, with bloodied nurses performing frantic triage and a tent set up outside to deal with the overflow of casualties. Screaming relatives begged for help and water for the wounded.Medina hospital official Duniya Ali Mohamed said most of the wounded were women and children and that hospital workers had not slept for the last 24 hours. "These are the worst armed clashes in the capital for the last two months," she said. African Union troops were drawn into the fighting after the insurgents advanced to the north of the capital and directly threatened their positions, a spokesman said. The peacekeepers' direct involvement in fighting could increase the rate of attacks against them at a time when the government is desperately seeking more resources and manpower from the international community....more..http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/665004
Al Shabaab Vows to Fight on in Somalia
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