Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

Heavy Casualties in Mogadishu as Somali Fighting Flares
-------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=125AC87:2AB91D3 At least 30 people
killed in renewed clashes between Islamic militias and alliance of
secular warlords Reports from Mogadishu say extensive fighting has
broken out across the Somali capital. At least 30 people have been
killed in renewed clashes between Islamic militias and an alliance of
secular warlords.

Thousands of civilians are fleeing their homes in Mogadishu. Alisha
Ryu, a VOA correspondent in Mogadishu, says Thursday's fighting began
as a battle for control of a central hotel, then quickly escalated and
spread throughout the city.

Fighters are attacking each other with mortars, antiaircraft guns,
small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.

The city's Medina hospital says it is treating scores of wounded
civilians. Many victims were hit by shrapnel from mortar shells that
landed in residential areas.

Nearly 150 people were killed in Mogadishu during several recent days
of fighting that ended in a tenuous ceasefire.

The latest fighting between Muslim militias and Somalia's secular
warlords further dampens attempts to restore order to Somalia, which
has been swept by anarchy for the past 15 years, since dictator
Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991.

A transitional Somali government based in the northern city of Baidoa
has so far been unable to establish control of the country.

The coalition of secular warlords, dubbed the Alliance for the
Restoration of Peace and Counterterroism, was formed in February to
curb the growing influence of Islamic courts in Somalia. The Islamic
militias have been accused of links to the al-Qaida terror network.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


.