Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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April 23, 2007

Fighting Continues in Mogadishu for Sixth Day
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=172DA46:A6F02AD83191E1601AE41E239F15F64B9574F7DCC14957C0 Since the latest
round of fighting began, Wednesday, more than 200 people are believed
to have been killed and hundreds of others wounded Fighting between
Ethiopian forces and insurgents rocked the Somali capital, Mogadishu,
for the sixth straight day, Monday. Government officials have urged
civilians to leave the city, immediately. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu
has the latest from our East African Bureau in Nairobi.







Somali civilians flee the scene of a mortar attack at the southern
neighbourhood of Bakara in the embattled capital of Mogadishu, 21 Apr
2007Witnesses in Mogadishu say it is becoming too dangerous to stay in
the city, which is being destroyed by artillery, mortars and tank
fire.

Since the latest round of fighting began, Wednesday, more than 200
people are believed to have been killed and hundreds of others
wounded.

The interior minister of Somalia's Ethiopian-backed government,
Mohamed Mahmud Gama Dhere, says the fighting is strictly between the
government and terrorists linked with the al-Qaida terrorist network.

"We believe only al-Qaida is fighting against the government," he
said. "According to our estimation, hundreds [are] fighting."

Mogadishu residents disagree, saying there are clan-based insurgents,
as well as those who simply oppose the presence of Ethiopian troops on
Somali soil.


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