Mogadishu fighting escalates

Heavy fighting has been continuing in Mogadishu, as militia loyal to faction leaders Husayn Aydid and Usman Ato clashed with militia loyal to the Transitional National Government (TNG), local sources told IRIN. Militia loyal to Ato on 15 July tried to loot a convoy of trucks carrying relief food donated by Saudi Arabia, at a checkpoint south of Mogadishu on the Afgoi road controlled by Ato's militia, Mogadishu resident Hasan Ahmad said. The fighting, which started on the morning of 15 July, died down as darkness fell, but resumed in earnest on Monday morning, humanitarian sources in Mogadishu told IRIN. "I can hear the sound of mortar bombs as I'm talking to you," said Ahmad.

The fighting, which is concentrated in the KM-7 area of southwest Mogadishu, is taking its toll of the residents of Medina district, sources said. Medina has so far been spared the fighting. Most of the latest fighting was concentrated in north Mogadishu, the sources said. Dr Shaykhdon Salad Ilmi, director of Medina hospital, told IRIN on Monday that his hospital had received 60 wounded since 15 July. "My information is that all the hospitals in Mogadishu are full of people wounded over the last five days," he said. Most of the victims were civilians hit by stray rounds fired from heavy weapons being used by the combatants, including two hospital employees hit by a stray shell in the hospital compound, said Ilmi. There were no accurate figures for the death toll, with estimates varying between 50 and 100, he said. "I would conservatively put the death toll since Thursday at 50," said Ilmi. By 1530 local time on Monday, the fighting had subsided, he said. However, the two sides were still facing each other at KM-7 and could resume fighting at any time.

Monday's fighting is the latest in a series of confrontations between various groups in Mogadishu since 12 July. On 12 July, over 25 people were reportedly killed when two Abgal sub-clans, the Wa'asle and Warsangeli, fought around the Suq-Ba'ad area of north Mogadishu. By the morning of 13 July, the city was enjoying a lull when the fighting stopped after the recently formed TNG police intervened.
However, on the morning of 14 July, militia loyal to faction leader Muse Sudi Yalahow attacked positions of the Warsangeli militia in the Sana area of north Mogadishu. At least 20 people were reportedly killed in that battle, humanitarian sources said. The two sides used all sorts of weapons including mortars, said Ahmad Ise, a north Mogadishu resident. "They were shelling indiscriminately. I am sure many more dead bodies will be found," he said. North Mogadishu was reportedly calm on Monday.