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| Somalia fighting: New clashes in capital Mogadishu | Somalia fighting: New clashes in capital Mogadishu |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Somali capital, Mogadishu, has been hit by some of the fiercest fighting in the city in months, in what is seen as a major setback for the government. | |
| The clashes began shortly after dawn between Islamist al-Shabab militants and government forces, backed by African Union (AU) troops. | The clashes began shortly after dawn between Islamist al-Shabab militants and government forces, backed by African Union (AU) troops. |
| The AU forces are reported to have used tanks and heavy artillery. | The AU forces are reported to have used tanks and heavy artillery. |
| Al-Shabab withdrew from Mogadishu in August and the government then declared that the city was under its control. | Al-Shabab withdrew from Mogadishu in August and the government then declared that the city was under its control. |
| The fighting occurred in the northern districts of Karan and Huriwa on Thursday. | The fighting occurred in the northern districts of Karan and Huriwa on Thursday. |
| There are reports of casualties but the details are not yet known. | There are reports of casualties but the details are not yet known. |
| It followed an attack by al-Shabab on Wednesday on a military training camp run by AU troops in Wadajir to the south of Mogadishu. | |
| That area had previously been considered relatively safe. | That area had previously been considered relatively safe. |
| Since the Islamists made their "tactical withdrawal" from Mogadishu, there have been several suicide attacks in the city. | |
| The most recent happened on Tuesday in the Hodan district - at least five people were killed. | The most recent happened on Tuesday in the Hodan district - at least five people were killed. |
| Earlier this week al-Shabab announced that it was changing its name to Imaarah Islamiya. | Earlier this week al-Shabab announced that it was changing its name to Imaarah Islamiya. |
| The BBC's East Africa Correspondent, Will Ross, says the move may have been designed to send a message to the international community that al-Shabab is not on the verge of defeat. | The BBC's East Africa Correspondent, Will Ross, says the move may have been designed to send a message to the international community that al-Shabab is not on the verge of defeat. |
| The African Union has about 9,000 troops in Mogadishu to prevent the internationally-backed government from being overthrown. | The African Union has about 9,000 troops in Mogadishu to prevent the internationally-backed government from being overthrown. |
| Kenya also sent its soldiers into the south of Somalia in October, following a series of cross-border kidnappings which it blamed on al-Shabab. | Kenya also sent its soldiers into the south of Somalia in October, following a series of cross-border kidnappings which it blamed on al-Shabab. |
| The Kenyan parliament on Wednesday agreed to integrate its troops in Somalia into the AU force. | The Kenyan parliament on Wednesday agreed to integrate its troops in Somalia into the AU force. |
| Somalia has endured more than two decades of war and for much of that time had no functioning government. | Somalia has endured more than two decades of war and for much of that time had no functioning government. |
| Some parts of the country have been hit by a severe drought this year. | Some parts of the country have been hit by a severe drought this year. |