Mogadishu residents asked to flee battle zones as fighting intensifies

Mogadishu residents asked to flee battle zones as fighting intensifies

By MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN- AP


MOGADISHU: Fighting erupted in Somalia's capital for the third straight day Friday in some of the worst violence in nearly a year, as government-backed troops shelled the front lines of rebels trying to advance into government-held territory.

Mogadishu's mayor warned residents to flee the fighting, which is expected to intensify in coming weeks after the government launches a long-awaited offensive against insurgents.

Emergency officials say at least 50 people have been killed and nearly 150 wounded in fighting in the Somali capital on Wednesday and Thursday. At least two more people were killed in fighting Friday, a resident reported. At least six were wounded, emergency officials said.

Rebels advanced to as close as 1 mile from the government-held area on Thursday, but have since been pushed back several blocks.

Mogadishu Mayor Abdurisaq Mohamed Nor told citizens to move at least a couple miles away from battle zones. Residents in Mogadishu are often caught in crossfire or are hit by off-target munitions.

"The ongoing fighting is not part of our planned major offensive, but there is possibility that it can follow, we urge the civilians to flee from the battle zones," said Nor "This time your suffering will not last much longer.

We will finish the rebels off." A resident, Mohamed Abdi Haji, said that about 200 insurgents aboard a dozen gun-mounted vehicles moved into his neighborhood and drove toward the presidential palace.

Government soldiers and African Union peacekeepers fired barrages at the militants and forced them to retreat, Haji said.

An Associated Press reporter in Mogadishu said the fighting is the heaviest since last May, when insurgents trying to topple the weak, UN-backed government launched massive attacks.

Residents fleeing the city said many of their relatives and neighbors are trapped in the war zone.

"My husband and six of my relatives and some of my neighbors are trapped inside their homes ... by mortars and bullets flying every where," said Dahabo Duhulow, a mother of six.

An Associated Press photo showed red couches piled high on a wooden, donkey-pulled cart as two Somalis helped propel the cart forward.

With his 2-year-old son clasped to his chest, Adow Yusuf Da'ud said that he had walked three hours through dangerous streets to escape the fighting.

"During the day and during the night, the shells were raining down into our residences," Da'ud said. "We had to walk through the danger to escape. My oldest son is still there to take care of the house and the property" More than half of those living in Somalia's seaside capital have fled. Those remaining are mostly too poor to move or fear being attacked as they leave.