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Mogadishu fighting kills 12

02 November 2010 02:48 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Fresh fighting killed 12 people in Mogadishu, in a reminder of the daunting task awaiting Somalia’s new prime minister, who was officially sworn in Monday, APA reports quoting AFP.
A Somali official claimed government forces repelled an attack launched late Sunday by the Shebab, an extremist group that has led a deadly insurgency aimed at toppling the Western-backed transitional government.
"The terrorists tried to penetrate our positions near Kilometre Zero but we taught them a lesson they will never forget. They were defeated and we killed many of their fighters," Mudiddin Ahmed told AFP.
He said three government soldiers were also killed and six wounded.
The Shebab attacked several positions held by government forces as well as by the African Union force (AMISOM) that has kept the government alive for more than two years.
Witnesses said the fighting also killed civilians.
"The fighting was at its worst around Shibis and Bondhere districts. They exchanged heavy artillery and machine gun fire that left 12 dead, including civilians," Mohamed Bashir, a local resident, said.
He said he saw at least eight dead bodies, including three which he identified as Shebab. Other residents gave similar or higher death tolls.
Ali Hussein, another resident, told AFP that a stray shell struck a home, killing four members of the same family.
"A father and his wife, as well as two of their children, were killed in a house near Suqbacad last night when artillery fire destroyed their house," he said.
"Their bodies were completely charred and could barely be identified," said Halimo Adan, another witness.
Thousands of people, many of them civilians, have been killed in more two years of almost daily fighting in Mogadishu. Rights groups have accused all sides of not doing enough to spare civilians.
Pro-government forces have failed to pin back the Shebab, who have also failed to punch their way to the presidency and take full control of the capital.
AMISOM has more than 7,000 Ugandan and Burundian forces deployed in Mogadishu and has asked for a more robust mandate to go after the Shebab and help the transitional government establish its authority on the city.
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed was confirmed as prime minister by parliament on Sunday following a protracted dispute between President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed who appointed him and the parliament speaker.
Speaking at a ceremony in Mogadishu on Monday, the new premier admitted that he had his work cut out to succeed where his predecessors failed and restore stability to the war-torn country.
"I thank the president for handing me this job, which I believe is very challenging. I ask you all to help me fulfill my commitments," Mohamed said.
"We have assigned a difficult task to our brother who took the oath of office today," the president said at the ceremony, attended by members of the cabinet and parliament.
"I ask everyone of you to assist him towards accomplishing his duties and I also ask the prime minister to establish a government soon."