E-MAIL THIS LINK
To: 

Gun battle kills five in southern Somalia
(SomaliNet) A new flareup of fighting between Somalia government troops and militia loyal to former ruler in lower Shabelle region, south of Somalia left five people dead and six others wounded on Monday, local residents said this morning.

Eyewitnesses in Shalanbod town, 10 km away from the coastal Marka city, the provincial capital of lower Shabelle region told Somalinet by telephone this morning that the fighting started yesterday in the town between the newly arrived government forces and militia loyal former administration in the region. “The fighting lasted many hours till last night in Shalanbod where the warring sides exchanged heavy weaponry.
"Hey, how'dya like a howitzer?"
"Gee thanks. Here, take a mortar."
"Don't mind if I do."
Government soldiers took control of the town and there is still a war tension in the area,” said Osman Mayow a local resident. The gun battle has stopped this morning despite sporadic gun fire that could be heard near the town. The fighting has had an impact on the inhabitants in Shalanbod.

Meanwhile, one civilian was killed and two others were wounded in a skirmish in Marka city this morning between the government soldiers and armed militiamen.

Posted by: Fred 2007-07-11
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=193142