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Somali fighters attack AU bases Carnage in Somali market shelling
(about 9 hours later)
At least 27 people have been killed in fierce fighting after Somali insurgents attacked two African Union (AU) peacekeeping bases in Mogadishu. About 40 people have been killed in the Somali capital, mostly when shells were fired on the busy Bakara market.
Six of the dead are from a single family, killed when a mortar landed on their house, witnesses say. Witnesses say Ethiopian troops fired mortars after insurgents launched simultaneous attacks on the two main African Union peacekeeping bases.
A BBC correspondent says deafening gunfire and explosions could be heard overnight after the simultaneous attacks on the AU's two main bases. "There is blood everywhere, and human flesh on the walls," said market trader Abshir Mohamed Ali.
Eleven people were killed when a shell landed in an alleyway, while six family members died overnight, they say.
Correspondents say the clashes are among the fiercest in Mogadishu for several months.
Minutes later, two neighbours who rushed to assist them died in the same house after another mortar shell struck Mohamed Hussein, elder
They say hospitals are overwhelmed with all the wounded.
Meanwhile, a kidnapped German and his Somali wife have been freed.Meanwhile, a kidnapped German and his Somali wife have been freed.
Two neighbours who rushed to assist them died in the same house after another mortar shell struck Mohamed Hussein, elder
They were released by police in the semi-autonomous north-eastern region of Puntland, officials say.They were released by police in the semi-autonomous north-eastern region of Puntland, officials say.
They were seized at gunpoint over the weekend.They were seized at gunpoint over the weekend.
Peacekeepers unhurt 'Disaster'
After the overnight attacks on the AU bases, there has been fierce fighting and shelling in Mogadishu's Bakara market, seen as an insurgent stronghold. The Ethiopian troops are backing government forces against the Islamist insurgents.
At least 19 people have died here, after eight were killed earlier, witnesses say. About 30 people died in Bakara, after at least eight were killed in the overnight clashes, witnesses say.
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says many people were going to mosques for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when the Islamists first attacked around 0200 local time (2300GMT). Ali Mohamed Siyad, who chairs Bakara market traders' association, said the shelling was a "disaster".
Several people were also killed in clashes on Friday He told the BBC that it came as large numbers of people were shopping ahead of next week's Eid festival to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
He says the AU bases near the airport and in the K4 district were attacked. Most of the AU peacekeepers in Somalia are from Uganda
"A mother and her five children died when a mortar hit their house," said elder Mohamed Hussein told the AFP news agency. On Friday, the police said insurgents had launched attacks from the market.
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan says the AU bases near the airport and in the K4 district were attacked overnight.
"A mother and her five children died when a mortar hit their house," elder Mohamed Hussein told the AFP news agency.
"Minutes later, two neighbours who rushed to assist them died in the same house after another mortar shell struck," he said."Minutes later, two neighbours who rushed to assist them died in the same house after another mortar shell struck," he said.
The fighting is so fierce that people are unable to go and collect the bodies of those killed. The fighting is so fierce that people were unable to go and collect the bodies of those killed.
Our correspondent says two medical staff and a patient were wounded when a mortar hit a mental hospital.Our correspondent says two medical staff and a patient were wounded when a mortar hit a mental hospital.
AU spokesman Baridgye Bahuko said there had been no casualties among the peacekeepers.AU spokesman Baridgye Bahuko said there had been no casualties among the peacekeepers.
On Friday, an AU plane became the first aircraft to land at the main Mogadishu airport for four days, after insurgents from the al-Shabab group threatened to shoot down planes.On Friday, an AU plane became the first aircraft to land at the main Mogadishu airport for four days, after insurgents from the al-Shabab group threatened to shoot down planes.
This led to fierce battles on Friday.This led to fierce battles on Friday.
Representatives from the government and Islamist groups again delayed a ceasefire they had been due to sign on Friday in neighbouring Djibouti.Representatives from the government and Islamist groups again delayed a ceasefire they had been due to sign on Friday in neighbouring Djibouti.
They could not agree on the wording of a statement on the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from the country.They could not agree on the wording of a statement on the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from the country.
The Ethiopians intervened in 2006 to help the government oust Islamist forces from the capital and surrounding regions.The Ethiopians intervened in 2006 to help the government oust Islamist forces from the capital and surrounding regions.
Islamist fighters from the al-Shabab group are not involved in the Djibouti talks.Islamist fighters from the al-Shabab group are not involved in the Djibouti talks.
They have said they would step up attacks during Ramadan.They have said they would step up attacks during Ramadan.
Only Uganda and Burundi have contributed troops to the AU peacekeeping force, which has just 2,000 troops of the 8,000 planned.Only Uganda and Burundi have contributed troops to the AU peacekeeping force, which has just 2,000 troops of the 8,000 planned.
Somalia has been wracked by conflict since 1991, when former President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown.Somalia has been wracked by conflict since 1991, when former President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown.