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Peacekeepers targeted in Somalia Peacekeepers targeted in Somalia
(40 minutes later)
Renewed fighting has broken out in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, with African Union peacekeepers coming under attack from Islamist insurgents. Renewed fighting in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, between African Union and Islamist insurgents has prompted thousands to flee the capital.
At least 15 civilians have died since clashes erupted late on Tuesday and people are fleeing the city. The peacekeepers, who came under heavy attack for the third day running, said they had to use unusually tough measures to repulse the insurgents.
Insurgents attacked Ugandan peacekeepers, who responded with tank and artillery fire. A local human rights worker told the BBC that up to 18,000 people had fled.
On Monday about 30 people were killed and dozens wounded in some of the worst violence Mogadishu has seen in months. At least 45 civilians have died since Monday in some of the worst violence Mogadishu has seen in months.
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says Islamist insurgents have been gaining ground in the city in their fight against the Ethiopian-backed government.The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says Islamist insurgents have been gaining ground in the city in their fight against the Ethiopian-backed government.
Observers say there has been a change in tactics, with Islamists switching from hit-and-run raids to sustained attacks against peacekeepers. I have escaped from my house because throughout last night artillery shells had been pounding on us Elderly man in Mogadishu Observers say there has been a change in tactics, with Islamists switching from hit-and-run raids to sustained attacks against peacekeepers.
Somalia has been wracked by conflict since 1991, when former President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown.
Ethiopia intervened in 2006 to help the government oust Islamist forces from the capital and surrounding regions.
The Islamists then launched an insurgency against Somalia's transitional government and its Ethiopian allies.
'Deafening gunfire''Deafening gunfire'
Tuesday's clashes happened in the south of the city.Tuesday's clashes happened in the south of the city.
Our reporter says heavily armed insurgents attacked the AU base at K4 - a strategic junction in the south of the city linking the airport and the presidential palace. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7633625.stm">Peacekeepers mired in Somalia Our reporter says heavily armed insurgents attacked the AU base at K4 - a strategic junction in the south of the city linking the airport and the presidential palace.
Peacekeepers at the K4 base responded by firing into Bakara market, a scene of frequent fighting where most of the victims of Monday's violence were killed. The sounds of deafening gunfire and bombardments could be heard throughout the city overnight, our correspondent says.
A shell hit our house, my father was killed and his body is here Woman in Mogadishu Peacekeepers mired in Somalia
The sounds of deafening gunfire and bombardments could be heard throughout the city overnight, he says.
It was the third sleepless night for residents and the second serious attack against AU peacekeepers in a week.
Peacekeepers have generally been considered friendly since their arrival last year, and residents have been upset by the scale of their retaliation, our reporter says.Peacekeepers have generally been considered friendly since their arrival last year, and residents have been upset by the scale of their retaliation, our reporter says.
Maj Bahoku Barigye, an spokesman for the African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom), said the peacekeepers had not suffered any causalities nor had their moral been affected. Maj Bahoku Barigye, an spokesman for the African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom), said the peacekeepers had not suffered any causalities and were acting in self defence.
He denied that the attacks were getting worse. "We are not using any heavy arms," he told the BBC.
"I have been here for about eight months and I have not seen any difference whatsoever," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. "We target a specific area where people are shooting at us from, and that is it, we don't go outside, we don't go beyond that."
'No lost cause' 'Shocking'
But people living by the AU bases have started to flee their homes. Our correspondent says people living by the AU bases are fleeing their homes - on minibuses, donkey carts or on foot.
"A shell hit our house, my father was killed and his body is here, and I don't know where anybody else is," a distressed woman in the capital told the BBC's Somali Service. The only way out of this mess at the moment is to have a successful negotiation Academic David Shinn "We could no longer watch the shocking incidents and what happened to our neighbours, who were either killed or injured, my children could not bear the shelling, that is why I have decided to escape," a mother of five told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
Local residents told AFP news agency that shelling killed four people in one house and three in another area. An elderly man said: "I have escaped from my house because throughout last night artillery shells had been pounding on us."
Most of the AU peacekeepers in Somalia are from Uganda Local human rights worker Ali Shiekh Yaasiin said an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 people had left the city in the past few days to join other displaced people outside the city.
Somalia has been wracked by conflict since 1991, when former President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown.
The Ethiopians intervened in 2006 to help the government oust Islamist forces from the capital and surrounding regions.
The Islamists then launched an insurgency against Somalia's transitional government.
David Shinn, a former US diplomat who teaches at the George Washington University, said fighters from the hardline al-Shabab militia were trying to assert their authority in order to force the Ethiopians out.David Shinn, a former US diplomat who teaches at the George Washington University, said fighters from the hardline al-Shabab militia were trying to assert their authority in order to force the Ethiopians out.
They are trying "to show that they are in a position to perhaps even take control of Mogadishu if the Ethiopian forces were to leave", he told the BBC.They are trying "to show that they are in a position to perhaps even take control of Mogadishu if the Ethiopian forces were to leave", he told the BBC.
'No lost cause'
Maj Barigye said it was unrealistic to expect a quick resolution to Somalia's long-running conflict.Maj Barigye said it was unrealistic to expect a quick resolution to Somalia's long-running conflict.
"There is no lost cause here," he said."There is no lost cause here," he said.
"It's just a question of time, a question of patience, it's a question of tolerance, it's a question of understanding.""It's just a question of time, a question of patience, it's a question of tolerance, it's a question of understanding."
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.
But Mr Shinn said adding more peacekeepers would not help.But Mr Shinn said adding more peacekeepers would not help.
"The only way out of this mess at the moment is to have a successful negotiation between moderates and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, the ARS, and the transitional federal government," he said."The only way out of this mess at the moment is to have a successful negotiation between moderates and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, the ARS, and the transitional federal government," he said.
The UN has been leading peace negotiations over Somalia in neighbouring Djibouti, but al-Shabab has so far rejected the process.The UN has been leading peace negotiations over Somalia in neighbouring Djibouti, but al-Shabab has so far rejected the process.
A ceasefire due to be signed at the end of last week has been delayed for another month.A ceasefire due to be signed at the end of last week has been delayed for another month.
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Are you in Mogadishu? If you are, and would be willing to speak to the BBC about the fighting, please send us your details. They will not be published.Are you in Mogadishu? If you are, and would be willing to speak to the BBC about the fighting, please send us your details. They will not be published.
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