Somali government forces on Friday battled Islamist insurgents in southern Mogadishu, killing two civilians, witnesses said.
Rival forces pounded each other with heavy artillery, forcing many residents to remain indoors while others fled to safety, they said.
“Both sides, armed with hand grenades and machine guns, are fighting and there are several explosions,” said Nur Ali, a resident of Bakara market.
“The fighting has killed two people and wounded many, but we do not know the exact number,” added Ali Mohamed of the neighbouring Hodan area.
Islamist militants, ousted from Mogadishu and other strongholds early this year by Ethiopia-backed government forces, have been carrying out near-daily attacks, mainly in Mogadishu, leaving a trail of fatalities.
Somalia has been devastated by a civil war since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre touched off a bloody power struggle that has defied numerous peace initiatives. — AFP