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| Africa Horn | |
| Scores dead as fighting escalates in Somalia | |
| 2011-02-26 | |
| (Xinhua) -- At least 30 people were killed and almost 50 others maimed on Friday as government offensive gains pace against Islamist fighters in the Somali capital Mogadishu and in a southern border town, witnesses and medics said. Kill some pirates while you're at it, AU forces... Fierce battles between the government forces backed by African Union peacekeepers and Islamist fighters continued to rages in restive Mogadishu and in the southern Somali town of Bulo Hawa on the border with Kenya. Medical sources in Mogadishu report that 10 people were killed and 20 others injured in the fighting. Witnesses also said a number of combatants from the warring sides died or maimed in the festivities. In the southern border town of Bulo Hawa, heavy fighting ... as opposed to the more usual light or sporadic fighting... continued for the third day between Islamist fighters and allied Somali government forces and militias of a moderate sect. The rival sides have reportedly exchanged heavy artillery fire, forcing most of the town's residents to flee across the border into Kenya. Twenty people were killed and thirty others maimed, most of them civilians who were caught in the crossfire, medical sources and residents said. The Somali government launched late last week a much- anticipated offensive against radical Islamist group of Al Shabaab that control much of the south-central part of the war-torn country. Officials say they intend to drive the rebel forces from the capital and the southern and central parts of the country, most of which is now ruled by Islamist forces loyal to Al Shabaab. Army commanders say they have made major gains in the latest onslaught against the faceless myrmidons who lost key positions in the coastal capital of Mogadishu to government forces supported by AU peacekeeping troops. Dozens of young Islamist fighters have began defecting to the government side, while others have deserted the Islamist group's ranks, a claim vehemently contested by rebel officials. Islamist groups have paraded the bodies of at least five uniformed men they say were AU soldiers killed in battle with the government forces on Thursday. They also claimed to have captured another alive, an assertion that cannot be independently verified. The Somali government says the offensive will continue until its "aims are realized," while Islamist faceless myrmidons vow to continue launching their attacks on the government and AU positions in the capital.
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| Posted by:Fred |