MOGADISHU, July 10: Heavy fighting resumed on Monday in Mogadishu as Islamic militia attacked to dislodge gunmen loyal to warlord Abdi Hassan Awale Qeydiid, who repositioned his fighters after fleeing deadly weekend clashes, witnesses and militia said.
Rival sides pounded each other with heavy rounds of artillery, mortar and rocket in the south of the Somali capital, with terrified civilians fleeing the area as stray rounds landed on non-military targets, witnesses said.
Residents in the nearby K4 neighbourhood said stray mortar shells had landed from the battlefield in 6-Piano and Mogadishu Gaheyr University, which ceased to operate after the country descended into chaos with the 1991 ouster of dictator Siad Barre.
“Two mortar shells that were fired from Qeydiid position have landed in the K4 area. His militia were responding to attacks by the Islamic courts who want to dislodge him,” said Ahmed Ismail, a resident of the area.
“A stray round has injured one person here,” added Muslima Ali, also a resident.
On Sunday, heavily-armed militia attacked the warlord’s positions sparking deadly clashes that forced the warlord to flee from his tiny stronghold, leaving a trail of death.
He reappeared again, despite an announcement from the militia that they had rid the capital of warlords.
On Monday, hospitals and rival militia sources said at least 39 people were killed, up from Sunday’s figure of 21 dead and nearly 100 wounded.—AFP
