13 civilians killed in Somalia battles,Ambulance offers hope in war-torn Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Mortars and missiles pounded parts of the Somali capital yesterday, killing at least 13 civilians in two battles between Islamic militiamen and the African Union peacekeeping force, witnesses and officials said.In the first battle, heavily armed Islamist insurgents attacked a Burundian contingent of the AU force based at a former military academy in southwestern Mogadishu. Witnesses said eight civilians were killed.
Somali government spokesman Sheik Abdirisaq Qeylow confirmed the battle took place but did not give any other details. An AU peacekeeping force spokesman, Barigye Bahoku, also confirmed the fighting.Later yesterday, residents reported missiles pounding Mogadishu’s main market and said they were fired from an AU base nearby. Witnesses say they saw at least five civilians killed.However, Bahoku said AU soldiers did not target the market in the city’s south and instead were firing to protect a cargo ship docking at the port, which was being attacked by Islamic insurgents.The African Union force, which is meant to protect key government installations such as the main air and sea ports, has become the main target of Islamic militias keen to overthrow the fragile UN-backed government. A loose alliance of Islamic groups opposed to the government controls most of Mogadishu and other areas of southern Somalia.
Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991, when Hawiye warlords overthrew Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each other.Earlier yesterday, a firing squad of 10 al-Shabab men killed two Somalis in Mogadishu’s main livestock market after the group accused them of being spies for foreign organizations.
Ambulance offers hope in war-torn Somalia
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/09/29/somalia.ambulance/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
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