Somalia is more dangerous for civilians than Afghanistan or Iraq, a group that works to prevent civilian deaths said.

At least 17 civilians were killed when Somali government forces backed by African Union peacekeepers launched co-ordinated attacks against Islamic insurgent strongholds in the capital Mogadishu, officials said today.

At least 11 civilians and four security officers were today killed in the Somali capital in two separate incidents of violence, an officer and residents said.