Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
8 December 2011
Mogadishu — Heavy battle between Somalia’s interim federal government backing by African union peace keeping troops and Al-shabab militants flared up parts of capital Mogadishu, residents and reports said on Thursday.
The fighting erupted early hours on Thursday in Mogadishu’s Karan and Hilwa districts and neighboring outskirts between Islamist insurgents and pro-government forces aiding by AMISOM soldiersand Al-shabab in the area, causing unidentified damages and casualties, since the combat is still going on.
Residents said that many Al-shabab fighters have launched an offensive against on bases of Somalia government soldiers and AMISOM in Karan and Hilwa towns,butThe goverment forces and African union troops resisted and took counter attack to the militants later.
Pro-government forces had not looked strong enough to break Al-Shabaab’s grip on parts of Mogadishu
The fighting erupted in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu yesterday as African Union peacekeepers launched an offensive aimed at protecting famine relief efforts from attacks by Al-Shabaab militants.
The Horn of Africa famine threatens Al-Shabaab’s hold with the Islamist militants fearing that the natural disaster will drive away the people they tax and conscript into military service.
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