Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


At Least 16 Killed in New Mogadishu Fighting

   VOA News 03 June 2010
   A doctor at Mogadishu's Madina hospital treats Fahma Abdulahi, who was
   injured  in a mortar shell attack, which killed her sister and injured
   several other members in her family, 03 Jun 2010

Photo: AP

   A doctor at Mogadishu's Madina hospital treats Fahma Abdulahi, who was
   injured  in a mortar shell attack, which killed her sister and injured
   several other members in her family, 03 Jun 2010

   Witnesses in Somalia's capital say at least 16 people have been killed
   in fighting between Islamist insurgents and pro-government forces.
   Reports  from  Mogadishu  say  the  fighting  broke  out Thursday when
   government   soldiers   backed   by   African  Union  troops  attacked
   insurgent-held positions.
   Somali   government   officials   say   they   have   retaken  several
   neighborhoods.
   Somalia's  transitional government holds only small parts of Mogadishu
   after  more  than  three  years  of  fighting  with  insurgent  groups
   al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam.
   The  insurgents  gained  ground  and  moved closer to the presidential
   compound during an attack late last month.
   Separate  fighting  between  al-Shabab  and  a  pro-government militia
   killed at least 24 people in central Somalia on Tuesday.
   Al-Shabab  and  Hizbul  Islam  are  trying  to  topple the U.N.-backed
   government and turn Somalia into a strict Islamic state.
   The  Horn  of  Africa  nation  has not had a stable central government
   since  1991.  Fighting over the last several years has killed tens of
   thousands of people and displaced more than a million.
   Aid groups say the country's humanitarian situation is among the worst
   in the world.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP.

.