Clashes in Mogadishu result in deaths

Three days of heavy fighting in Mogadishu has left over a dozen people dead, local sources told IRIN on Monday. The fighting started on the afternoon of 12 October when militia loyal to the Mogadishu faction leader, Muse Sudi Yalahow, attacked a training camp for new recruits to the security forces of the Transitional National Government (TNG) located in the southern outskirts of the city, humanitarian sources told IRIN. Yalahow's forces reportedly overran the camp, most of the occupants being away for their Friday furlough, and stole over a dozen small arms and two vehicles, one of the them a battle wagon, Abdi Ahmad, a resident of Mogadishu, said. On the night of 12 October, TNG security forces attacked Yalahow's main camp in El-Irfid, some 10 km north of the city and captured a "37" anti-aircraft guns and an assortment of small arms. "They also arrested some of the militia in the camp", but later returned to their base, said Ahmad.

The fighting subsided on Saturday afternoon, but resumed on Sunday, when Yalahow's forces started mortar-bombing the north Mogadishu district of Huriwa, according to a TNG interior ministry official. "Many people fled from Huriwa on Sunday", but returned after the bombardment died down that day, he added. The Mogadishu police spokesman, Colonel Muhammad Yusuf Madale, told IRIN "there was no clash on Monday, and the situation was returning to normal". The colonel said police estimated the death toll at "between 14 and 15, with at least 20 wounded". Reportedly talks were now in progress between TNG representatives and Yalahow, sources said. However, a TNG source contacted by IRIN on Monday declined to confirm or deny that talks were under way. Attempts by IRIN to reach Yalahow were unsuccessful.

In another development, renewed protests against the refusal by some traders to accept the 500 Somali shilling note resumed in Mogadishu on Monday, local sources told IRIN. Violent protests broke out last week when thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the refusal, with at least two people reportedly killed and over a dozen injured. The renewed protests were reportedly "less intense than last week's", a local businessman told IRIN. Madale said police were manning all the city's important checkpoints "in case things turn violent". At the time of writing, protesters were said to be concentrated at 30th street, one of the busiest streets in the city, burning tyres, sources said.