Violence escalates further in Somalia

FIGHTERS loyal to secular warlords and Islamic extremists fired artillery and mortars at each other early yesterday in Somalia’s capital as hundreds of families fled violence that has killed at least 122 people over five days.

The fighting has escalated steadily despite efforts by businessmen, clan elders and moderate religious leaders to broker a cease-fire.

It started on Sunday when extremists with alleged ties to al-Qaida tried to capture a strategic road through northern Mogadishu from the warlords.

The battle between the Islamic Court Union and the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-terrorism has centred on the northern neighbourhood of Sii-Sii, with neither side gaining an advantage. While the alliance has held the road through Sii-Sii, the court union has controlled the neighbourhoods on either side of it.

Militias allied to the extremists and the warlords in other parts of the city have not joined in the fighting, but continue to man their defences amid rising tensions.

Medical officials yesterday reported 26 people killed since nightfall on Wednesday. Most of the victims have been civilians caught in the crossfire. Doctors say more than 200 people have been wounded.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said two hospitals have admitted 184 wounded people, including 20 women and 22 children, and expressed concerns about “the consequences in humanitarian terms of the intense armed clashes”.

Twelve shells missed their target overnight, landing on civilian homes far from the fighting, witnesses said.

Hundreds of families gathered at the central bus station yesterday to flee the city.