Pirates holding a hijacked arms ship today insisted they would not release it for less than $20m (€14.4m) and warned they would repel any commando-style rescue attempts.

Fierce fighting in Somalia’s battle-scarred capital between Ethiopian-backed government forces and Islamic insurgents has left nearly 400 people dead, most of them civilians.

FOUR days of fierce fighting in Somalia’s capital between Ethiopian-backed government forces and Islamic insurgents has killed 381 people, a local human rights organisation said yesterday.

Four days of fierce fighting in Somalia's capital between Ethiopian-backed government forces and Islamic insurgents has killed 381 people, a local human rights organisation said today.

Hundreds of residents fled their homes today during a second day of fighting between Islamic insurgents and Somali and Ethiopian troops in which at least four people were killed and six wounded.