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Shelling 'kills Somali civilians' Shelling 'kills Somali civilians'
(about 1 hour later)
Heavy shelling in Somalia's capital has killed at least 18 people and injured at least 30. Heavy shelling in Somalia's capital has killed at least 20 people and injured more than 50, witnesses say.
The fighting began when Islamist insurgents fired mortars at the presidential palace as the president was leaving for a conference in Uganda. The fighting began when Islamist insurgents fired mortars towards the airport as the president was leaving for a conference in Uganda.
African Union peacekeepers and government troops responded by shelling insurgent strongholds of Mogadishu's main market and residential areas.African Union peacekeepers and government troops responded by shelling insurgent strongholds of Mogadishu's main market and residential areas.
An ambulance spokesman told the BBC most of those killed were civilians.An ambulance spokesman told the BBC most of those killed were civilians.
Moderate Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who took office earlier this year, is due to attend an African heads of state are meeting in Kampala to sign the first ever convention to protect displaced people.Moderate Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who took office earlier this year, is due to attend an African heads of state are meeting in Kampala to sign the first ever convention to protect displaced people.
"Three mortars were fired towards the airport as the president was leaving, they hit at perimeter of the airport," said police spokesman Abdulahi Hassan Barrise.
The plane carrying the president was able to take off safely, he said.
The head of Lifeline and Nationlink Ambulance Service said his volunteers had taken more than 55 injured civilians to hospital.
"We have seen at least 20 dead bodies lying in the streets most of them civilians in different areas in Howlwadag, Hodan and Wardhigley districts in the south," Ali Muse told the BBC.
"But we were giving attention to the injured," he said.