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Somali fighting mars anniversary | Somali fighting mars anniversary |
(41 minutes later) | |
Militants have attacked African Union peacekeepers in Somalia's capital, as President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed celebrates a year in office. | |
At least 12 people, including civilians, are reported to have been killed in the violence in Mogadishu. | At least 12 people, including civilians, are reported to have been killed in the violence in Mogadishu. |
Islamist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack. | Islamist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack. |
Some 200 Somali officials were listening to a poetry reading to mark President Ahmed's anniversary as shells were landing nearby, AFP reports. | Some 200 Somali officials were listening to a poetry reading to mark President Ahmed's anniversary as shells were landing nearby, AFP reports. |
President Ahmed, a moderate Islamist and former insurgent leader, was elected after UN-sponsored talks in neighbouring Djibouti but his government remains weak. | President Ahmed, a moderate Islamist and former insurgent leader, was elected after UN-sponsored talks in neighbouring Djibouti but his government remains weak. |
He was declared the winner of an election by Somali MPs on 31 January 2009. | He was declared the winner of an election by Somali MPs on 31 January 2009. |
Al-Shabab, which denies charges it is linked to al-Qaeda, controls most of southern Somalia, while the government, backed by the peacekeeping mission, is in charge of a few areas of Mogadishu. | Al-Shabab, which denies charges it is linked to al-Qaeda, controls most of southern Somalia, while the government, backed by the peacekeeping mission, is in charge of a few areas of Mogadishu. |
An AU spokesman told the BBC that the attack was fairly routine but a Mogadishu resident told Reuters news agency it was the heaviest clashes the city has seen for several months. | An AU spokesman told the BBC that the attack was fairly routine but a Mogadishu resident told Reuters news agency it was the heaviest clashes the city has seen for several months. |
Al-Shabab fighters attacked the AU base near the strategic K4 junction late on Thursday night. | Al-Shabab fighters attacked the AU base near the strategic K4 junction late on Thursday night. |
The Islamist group said two of its fighters had been killed, along with an unknown number of AU and government troops. | The Islamist group said two of its fighters had been killed, along with an unknown number of AU and government troops. |
"I don't have the full figures but I know that three of the dead are a mother and her two children," Mogadishu ambulance service head Ali Musa told AFP news agency. | "I don't have the full figures but I know that three of the dead are a mother and her two children," Mogadishu ambulance service head Ali Musa told AFP news agency. |
The attack also comes a day after Djibouti said it would send 450 troops to bolster the 5,000-strong AU force from Uganda and Burundi. | The attack also comes a day after Djibouti said it would send 450 troops to bolster the 5,000-strong AU force from Uganda and Burundi. |
Al-Shabab has been fighting a pro-government militia for control of the central town of Beledweyne in recent weeks. | Al-Shabab has been fighting a pro-government militia for control of the central town of Beledweyne in recent weeks. |
Somalia has been wracked by violence for some 20 years. | Somalia has been wracked by violence for some 20 years. |