Mogadishu Fighting Approaches Presidential Palace
By VOA News
14 May 2009
Islamic insurgents and pro-government forces in Somalia are fighting in an area near the presidential palace in Mogadishu.
Witnesses said mortar shells were fired during Thursday's clashes, which killed at least three people.
Pro-government militia fighters have been trying to stem several days of attacks by insurgents determined to overrun the presidential compound.
Mostly civilians wounded in fighting
The International Committee of the Red Cross said the fighting in Mogadishu during the past few days has killed dozens of people, wounded more than 400 - mostly civilians, and caused thousands to flee their homes.
The ICRC said it deplores the high number of civilian casualties and is deeply concerned about the plight of civilians caught up in the fighting.
On Wednesday, witnesses in the central Somali town of Mahas said fighting between pro-government troops and insurgents from the radical al-Shabab group killed at least seven people.
UN concerned about situation
The U.N. Security Council expressed concern Wednesday at efforts by al-Shabab forces to destabilize the situation in Somalia.
The United States, which considers al-Shabab a terrorist organization, believes the group has ties to al-Qaida.
Islamist insurgents have been trying to topple the Somali government for nearly two-and-a-half years. Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was once a leader of the insurgency himself, until a peace deal led to his installation as president in January.
Al-Shabab and its allies control most of southern Somalia, while the government's authority does not extend beyond small parts of the capital.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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