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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Heavy fighting in Somali capital | Heavy fighting in Somali capital |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Fifteen people have been killed in heavy fighting in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, where angry crowds dragged soldiers' bodies through the streets. | Fifteen people have been killed in heavy fighting in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, where angry crowds dragged soldiers' bodies through the streets. |
| Crowds kicked the dead bodies and set them alight. | Crowds kicked the dead bodies and set them alight. |
| Hundreds of civilians have been fleeing the violence, which is the worst since Islamists were driven from power in December after six months of rule. | Hundreds of civilians have been fleeing the violence, which is the worst since Islamists were driven from power in December after six months of rule. |
| Some 1,200 African Union troops have been deployed to Mogadishu this month to try and bring stability to the city. | Some 1,200 African Union troops have been deployed to Mogadishu this month to try and bring stability to the city. |
| Dozens have been killed during insurgent attacks in Mogadishu in the past two-and-a-half months, which the government blames on remnants of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). | Dozens have been killed during insurgent attacks in Mogadishu in the past two-and-a-half months, which the government blames on remnants of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). |
| Ethiopian troops, who have been in the city since December supporting Somali forces loyal to the transitional government, have been gradually handing over responsibilities to the AU force. | Ethiopian troops, who have been in the city since December supporting Somali forces loyal to the transitional government, have been gradually handing over responsibilities to the AU force. |
| 'Horrendous' | 'Horrendous' |
| The latest fighting started when pro-government forces tried to take control of strongholds of the Hawiye clan, whose leaders oppose the presence of Ethiopian forces. | The latest fighting started when pro-government forces tried to take control of strongholds of the Hawiye clan, whose leaders oppose the presence of Ethiopian forces. |
| The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan says Somali and Ethiopian troops, supported by tanks and armoured vehicles, entered an insurgent area of central Mogadishu before dawn. | The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan says Somali and Ethiopian troops, supported by tanks and armoured vehicles, entered an insurgent area of central Mogadishu before dawn. |
| This was a horrendous act and we are unhappy about the violence US envoy Michael Ranneberger class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6477787.stm">Somalia's complex conflict | |
| They were met by hundreds of masked insurgents, the first face-to-face confrontation between the two sides since December. | They were met by hundreds of masked insurgents, the first face-to-face confrontation between the two sides since December. |
| Shooting and mortar fire started and quickly spread to other parts of the city and at least seven government soldiers were killed, our reporter says. | Shooting and mortar fire started and quickly spread to other parts of the city and at least seven government soldiers were killed, our reporter says. |
| In the north-east of the city - an Islamist stronghold - photographs show people gathered around the body of a soldier killed during the fighting. | In the north-east of the city - an Islamist stronghold - photographs show people gathered around the body of a soldier killed during the fighting. |
| Other pictures posted on the Shabelle Media Network's website show the bodies of two soldiers being dragged through the streets. | Other pictures posted on the Shabelle Media Network's website show the bodies of two soldiers being dragged through the streets. |
| Shabelle reports that one was a Somalia government soldier, the other an Ethiopian fighter. | Shabelle reports that one was a Somalia government soldier, the other an Ethiopian fighter. |
| Correspondents say the scenes evoke memories of events in 1993 when the bodies of US soldiers were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu by militiamen. | Correspondents say the scenes evoke memories of events in 1993 when the bodies of US soldiers were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu by militiamen. |
| "This was a horrendous act and we are unhappy about the violence but this was something we expected because extremists elements are re-grouping in Mogadishu to sabotage the interim government," US envoy in Nairobi Michael Ranneberger told reporters. | "This was a horrendous act and we are unhappy about the violence but this was something we expected because extremists elements are re-grouping in Mogadishu to sabotage the interim government," US envoy in Nairobi Michael Ranneberger told reporters. |
| Signal | Signal |
| Somalia enjoyed a six-month lull in the insecurity that had dogged the country for the past 16 years when the UIC took power last year. | Somalia enjoyed a six-month lull in the insecurity that had dogged the country for the past 16 years when the UIC took power last year. |
| But insecurity has returned to the city and the UN estimates some 40,000 people have fled from Mogadishu since February. | But insecurity has returned to the city and the UN estimates some 40,000 people have fled from Mogadishu since February. |
| Our correspondent says there has been a dramatic escalation in attacks against government targets in recent weeks. | Our correspondent says there has been a dramatic escalation in attacks against government targets in recent weeks. |
| It comes at a time when the government says it plans to hold a national reconciliation conference in Mogadishu in April. | It comes at a time when the government says it plans to hold a national reconciliation conference in Mogadishu in April. |
| Insurgents may want to signal that the city is not safe to hold the meeting in, he says. | Insurgents may want to signal that the city is not safe to hold the meeting in, he says. |
| The US government has requested Congress to approve $60m to fund deployment of AU troops and support the national reconciliation conference planned for April, Mr Ranneberger said. | The US government has requested Congress to approve $60m to fund deployment of AU troops and support the national reconciliation conference planned for April, Mr Ranneberger said. |