18 killed in Mogadishu clashes

Somalia's government soldiers take their positions during fighting between Islamist insurgents and government troops in Wardhigley district of southern Mogadishu. According to an emergency official, 18 people were killed. Mogadishu residents reportedly live through frequent barrages of mortars and rockets during fighting between insurgents and government forces. Islamic militants have been waging an insurgency for more than a three years to topple the fragile, UN-backed government that controls a small slice of the capital. Photo: AP
Somalia's government soldiers take their positions during fighting between Islamist insurgents and government troops in Wardhigley district of southern Mogadishu. According to an emergency official, 18 people were killed. Mogadishu residents reportedly live through frequent barrages of mortars and rockets during fighting between insurgents and government forces. Islamic militants have been waging an insurgency for more than a three years to topple the fragile, UN-backed government that controls a small slice of the capital. Photo: AP
Somalia's government soldiers take their positions during fighting between Islamist insurgents and government troops in Wardhigley district of southern Mogadishu. According to an emergency official, 18 people were killed. Mogadishu residents reportedly live through frequent barrages of mortars and rockets during fighting between insurgents and government forces. Islamic militants have been waging an insurgency for more than a three years to topple the fragile, UN-backed government that controls a small slice of the capital. Photo: Reuters
Somalia's government soldiers take their positions during fighting between Islamist insurgents and government troops in Wardhigley district of southern Mogadishu. According to an emergency official, 18 people were killed. Mogadishu residents reportedly live through frequent barrages of mortars and rockets during fighting between insurgents and government forces. Islamic militants have been waging an insurgency for more than a three years to topple the fragile, UN-backed government that controls a small slice of the capital. Photo: AP
A Somalia's government soldier aims his weapon during fighting between Islamist insurgents and government troops in Wardhigley district of southern Mogadishu.
Somalia's government soldiers take their positions during fighting between Islamist insurgents and government troops in Wardhigley district of southern Mogadishu. According to an emergency official, 18 people were killed. Mogadishu residents reportedly live through frequent barrages of mortars and rockets during fighting between insurgents and government forces. Islamic militants have been waging an insurgency for more than a three years to topple the fragile, UN-backed government that controls a small slice of the capital. Photo: Reuters
Somalia's government soldiers take their positions during fighting between Islamist insurgents and government troops in Wardhigley district of southern Mogadishu. According to an emergency official, 18 people were killed. Mogadishu residents reportedly live through frequent barrages of mortars and rockets during fighting between insurgents and government forces. Islamic militants have been waging an insurgency for more than a three years to topple the fragile, UN-backed government that controls a small slice of the capital. Photo: AP
Somalia's government soldiers take their positions during fighting between Islamist insurgents and government troops in Wardhigley district of southern Mogadishu. According to an emergency official, 18 people were killed. Mogadishu residents reportedly live through frequent barrages of mortars and rockets during fighting between insurgents and government forces. Islamic militants have been waging an insurgency for more than a three years to topple the fragile, UN-backed government that controls a small slice of the capital. Photo: Reuters

Published Dec 6, 2010

An emergency official in Somalia's capital says 18 people were killed over the weekend in fighting between pro-government forces and Islamist insurgents. Mogadishu ambulance service chief Ali Muse said on Monday that 66 civilians were also wounded in the fighting. Mogadishu residents live through frequent barrages of mortars and rockets during fighting between insurgents - such as fighters from al-Shabab, the country's most powerful militant group - and government forces.

Islamic militants have been waging an insurgency for more than a three years to topple the fragile, UN-backed government that controls a small slice of the capital.