Somalia factional fighting kills 11, wounds 15
MOGADISHU, May 7 (Reuters) - At least 11 Somalis were killed and 15 wounded in Mogadishu on Sunday in fresh clashes between rival militia groups responsible for the capital's worst violence in years, witnesses said.
They said fighting was triggered when gunmen linked to the Mogadishu Anti-Terrorism Coalition, an alliance of powerful warlords, attacked a car belonging to forces allied to the Islamic courts.
The same factions were behind clashes that killed up to 90 people in March.
"A militia backing the anti-terror coalition attacked an Islamic court vehicle driving in SiiSii area of Mogadishu," said Siyad Mohamed, a militia leader linked to the Islamic courts.
"When the vehicle passed, they opened fire."
Residents said they saw at least 11 bodies on the streets, including a young child and a pregnant woman. They said three people had been hit by stray bullets near where the fighting took place.
"You can see dead people on the streets, even outside the battle area," one woman said.
One resident said Sunday's fighting followed an incident late on Saturday, when one man was killed in the area.
"The fighting today was after a man was killed last night by unidentified gunmen," said Abdullahi Ahmed, adding that some residents were fleeing the area.
Nurses at a nearby clinic said 15 people were brought in wounded. Calm had returned later on Sunday but Mohamed said he expected more fighting this week.
"The Islamic courts are moving their militia near SiiSii and are planning to attack these militias who are living there," he said.
Analysts say the upsurge in street battles between the two sides suggests the failed Horn of Africa state is becoming a new proxy battleground for Islamist militants and the United States.
Washington has long viewed Somalia as a haven for terrorists.
Somalia's President Abdullahi Yusuf expressed concern this week over U.S. support for the warlords fighting hardline Islamic militia as part of Washington's declared war on terrorism.
U.S. officials have declined comment on the persistent reports from foreign and local sources in Somalia that Washington has funnelled large sums of money to the alliance since the start of the year.
Many residents say the Islamic courts, which have created a semblance of order in lawless Mogadishu by providing justice under sharia law, want to fight any move to undermine their authority in the city of 1 million.
Reports that re-armed fighters from both sides have moved to strategic positions have fuelled fears of worse violence to come.
Somalia descended into lawlessness in 1991, when warlords ousted dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
The fighting in Mogadishu shows how little control a fledgling government formed in Kenya in 2004, but weakened by internal power struggles, has over the nation of 10 million. (Additional reporting by Guled Mohamed in Nairobi)
They said fighting was triggered when gunmen linked to the Mogadishu Anti-Terrorism Coalition, an alliance of powerful warlords, attacked a car belonging to forces allied to the Islamic courts.
The same factions were behind clashes that killed up to 90 people in March.
"A militia backing the anti-terror coalition attacked an Islamic court vehicle driving in SiiSii area of Mogadishu," said Siyad Mohamed, a militia leader linked to the Islamic courts.
"When the vehicle passed, they opened fire."
Residents said they saw at least 11 bodies on the streets, including a young child and a pregnant woman. They said three people had been hit by stray bullets near where the fighting took place.
"You can see dead people on the streets, even outside the battle area," one woman said.
One resident said Sunday's fighting followed an incident late on Saturday, when one man was killed in the area.
"The fighting today was after a man was killed last night by unidentified gunmen," said Abdullahi Ahmed, adding that some residents were fleeing the area.
Nurses at a nearby clinic said 15 people were brought in wounded. Calm had returned later on Sunday but Mohamed said he expected more fighting this week.
"The Islamic courts are moving their militia near SiiSii and are planning to attack these militias who are living there," he said.
Analysts say the upsurge in street battles between the two sides suggests the failed Horn of Africa state is becoming a new proxy battleground for Islamist militants and the United States.
Washington has long viewed Somalia as a haven for terrorists.
Somalia's President Abdullahi Yusuf expressed concern this week over U.S. support for the warlords fighting hardline Islamic militia as part of Washington's declared war on terrorism.
U.S. officials have declined comment on the persistent reports from foreign and local sources in Somalia that Washington has funnelled large sums of money to the alliance since the start of the year.
Many residents say the Islamic courts, which have created a semblance of order in lawless Mogadishu by providing justice under sharia law, want to fight any move to undermine their authority in the city of 1 million.
Reports that re-armed fighters from both sides have moved to strategic positions have fuelled fears of worse violence to come.
Somalia descended into lawlessness in 1991, when warlords ousted dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
The fighting in Mogadishu shows how little control a fledgling government formed in Kenya in 2004, but weakened by internal power struggles, has over the nation of 10 million. (Additional reporting by Guled Mohamed in Nairobi)
posted by Marko at 5/07/2006 06:54:00 PM
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