MOGADISHU, April 20: At least 26 people were killed on Sunday in the heaviest clashes to rock Mogadishu in two months, bringing to 44 the death toll for two days of fighting between Ethiopian-backed Somali forces and Muslim militants.

The worst violence hit the northern neighbourhood of Huriwaa, where fighting has been ongoing since Saturday, leaving civilians caught in the crossfire. Shelling and gunfire could still be heard after dusk on Sunday.

Local resident Muse Hassan Ali told AFP that Ethiopian forces had killed at least five civilians in his neighbourhood. “Two of them were working for the water company.

The other three were killed as they were hiding in a house to shelter for the exchanges of fire,” he said.

Another witness, Hussein Mursal Mohamed, said he had seen the bodies of three people shot dead inside the house, and added he had seen xthe body of another civilian in a nearby street.—AFP