The death toll from clashes between Ethiopian forces and Somali Islamist fighters rose to 18 after villagers found nine more bodies Friday, witnesses said. Fighting erupted Thursday when Ethiopian troops came under insurgent attack in Beledweyne town, 350 kilometres (220 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu, prompting a return of fire that killed nine civilians."We sent a committee to asses the casualties and they confirmed at least 18 civilians, most of them nomads who brought livestock to the town, were killed in two days," said Osman Sheik Mohamed, a local elder. He added that thousands of civilians had been displaced.
"Some of the dead were collected from outside the town where they were killed in the crossfire," said Hadi Abdi Yusuf, a local aid worker.
Residents said the clashes raged for a second day Friday with the rival sides firing artillery shells at each other.