Hundreds flee Mogadishu after clashes kill 35

A human rights activist says hundreds are fleeing Somalia’s capital after weekend fighting left at least 35 dead.

Elman Human Rights Organisation vice-chairperson Ali Fadhaa says many of the people fleeing are not sure where to go.

Separately, a shopkeeper living outside Mogadishu says he saw several vehicles packed with fighters of an extremist group heading to the capital.

Ali Osman says the fighters were masked and some wrapped a black flag around their heads, signs they are fighters of the al-Shabab group.

During the weekend fighting, al-Shabab’s allies fought pro-government militias. The group may have called for reinforcements from its strongholds south of Mogadishu.—Sapa-AP