Hundreds flee Mogadishu fighting

Hundreds of families are fleeing fighting in Mogadishu's southwestern Medina district, taking advantage of a relatively quiet day on Thursday, a local resident told IRIN.

The exodus follows two outbreaks of heavy fighting in the last two days between opposing militias in the district.

"Many families are taking advantage of today's lull in the fighting to reach safety," the resident, Nurta Hasan, said. "I have just taken my children to Waberi [south Mogadishu]."

She said residents were fleeing because they believed that renewed clashes were imminent. "Everyone is saying that [faction leader] Muse Sudi [Yalahow] will attack again, so we are being careful."

She added that most of those leaving were women, children and elderly people. Most of the men were staying behind to look after their houses.

However, a local journalist told IRIN he doubted that Yalahow, who had lost ground and at least six battle wagons during the fighting, was in a position to mount an effective counterattack.

"It may not stop him from attacking, but I don't believe he has the capability now for an immediate attack," he said.

The fighting, which first broke out early on Tuesday morning, when militia loyal to Yalahow attacked positions of his former ally, Umar Mahmud Muhammad Finish, has so far claimed 30 lives and left over 50 wounded. According to the journalist, Yalahow is attempting to strengthen his position before Somali peace talks due to be held in Kenya in September.

"This is purely an attempt to either eliminate, or, at the very least, sideline an immediate rival," he said.

Finish and Yalahow belong to the Da'ud sub clan of the Abgal. The two erstwhile allies fell out after Finish signed a peace agreement with the Transitional National Government (TNG) brokered by Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi in the Kenyan town of Nakuru last year.