Somalia Fighting Continues, 52 Killed

by Jordan Yerman | April 21, 2007 at 02:23 pm

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The fighting between Ethiopian troops and Somali militant groups in Mogadishu shows no sign of abatement, as civilians are caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile, disease and food shortages are taking hold in a land that has been without a functioning government for sixteen years.

At least 52 people have been killed in a fourth day of heavy fighting between Ethiopian troops and Islamist militia in Somalia's capital of Mogadishu.

Doctors said there had been overrun with casualties and there were reports of bodies strewn across streets.

More than 130 people were killed and 200 injured in the first three days of fighting, a local rights group said.

Ethiopian forces have been in Mogadishu since December after helping Somalia's transitional government oust Islamists.

The UN says more than 320,000 people have fled fighting in the capital since February.

'Humanitarian disaster'

One confirmed attack on Saturday was on the al-Barakah market.

A number of people were killed when mortar rounds landed. Local reports spoke of bodies mutilated beyond recognition.

Ethiopians are trying to kill me because I am Somali, and insurgents are not happy because I am not picking up a gun

Ali Haji

Mogadishu resident

AFP news agency reported a mortar round also struck a bus in the southern Hodan district, killing four people.

Somalia's Elman Human Rights Organisation said at least 52 people were killed in Saturday's violence, which it described as the worst in recent years.

"I call on the both sides to stop the fighting and shelling without any condition," chairman Sudan Ali Ahmed said to Associated Press news agency.

One resident, Ali Haji, said: "Ethiopians are trying to kill me because I am Somali, and insurgents are not happy because I am not picking up a gun and fighting with them. I have lost all hope."