At least 12 people were killed and more than 40 others wounded when rival militias using mortars, anti-aircraft guns and artillery clashed in Somalia's capital on Saturday. Residents said civilians including women and children were among the casualties when heavy fighting over territory broke out between gunmen loyal to Mogadishu's Islamic courts and a local warlord in the south of the capital. Each side blamed the other for the hostilities, which highlight general lawlessness in the Horn of Africa country that has been without a functioning central government for the last 15 years and is run by various clan-based militias. Residents said the fighting started early on Saturday and continued through the day. Many residents fled the area. As night fell, sporadic shooting could still be heard. "They came here to ignite a new crisis, and we are ready to defend our areas," warlord Abdi Nurre Siyad said.
Shaikh Shariff Ahmed, who heads the influential Islamic court administration, confirmed the fighting and accused the warlord of being behind it. Among the dead, at least four were civilians, residents said. Hospital officials in the capital said 41 wounded were brought in, including seven children and 12 women. One stray mortar hit a house and seriously wounded two children, witnesses said. Another mortar killed a woman.