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| Africa Horn |
| 50 |
| 2006-05-26 |
| TERRIFIED Mogadishu residents hid in their homes yesterday as fierce fighting between rival militias killed at least 50 people, witnesses said. Firing mortars, grenades and anti-aircraft guns, Islamic militia fought running battles with gunmen from a coalition of warlords, in a resumption of the worst violence in the Somali capital for a decade. Scores had fled the fighting, which erupted two days ago and intensified yesterday morning as it spread across Mogadishu. Others, caught in the crossfire, lay in the streets, crying in pain as old people and children ran in terror. "I am sure 50 people have died, the wounded are countless because mortars and missiles were hitting everywhere," Ali Nur, a member of the warlord alliance wounded in the fighting, said by telephone as he left hospital. By yesterday afternoon, the fighting in the Kilometre Four area, where the main battle had taken place, had subsided and only Islamic militiamen patrolled its usually busy streets. But gun battles continued in the Galgato and Dayniile areas. "No-one is going out now. There are fears there will be more fighting," said Abdifatah Abdikadir, a resident. "I have never seen such a heavy exchange. Mogadishu is blazing with fire," Ibrahim Maalim, a warlord coalition member, said from the city as heavy artillery and gunshots reverberated. "There are bodies lying everywhere. I cannot count them and there are wounded people lying on the streets crying for help." Yesterday, Somalia's internal security minister, Mohamed Qanyare, a warlord, denied radio reports that he and three other ministers were thinking of resigning. "I did not say that," Mr Qanyare said by telephone. "I said we are busy fighting with terrorists now. We don't have time for the government." Legislators from Somalia's fledging government say Mr Qanyare and other warlords involved in the violence should be sacked and charged with war crimes. They say they have broken ceasefire accords during the formation of the government. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #2 TERRIFIED Mogadishu residents hid in their homes yesterday as fierce fighting between rival militias killed at least 50 people, witnesses said. File under - significant penalties for early withdraw. Murtha et al. |
| Posted by: Clealing Gletle3270 2006-05-26 12:26 |
| #1 Emergency crying towel: In case of sadness, break glass. |
| Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden 2006-05-26 02:20 |