Mogadishu 21, March.07 ( Sh.M.Network) Heavy fighting between the Somali government troops backed by Ethiopians and a large number of armed Somalis opposing the government and the Ethiopians is continuing in the capital Mogadishu on Wednesday.
The heavy gun battle started around 6:10 am local time and then spread into fresh areas in the capital where insurgents toughened their soldiers, increasing the number of combatants with the government troops and Ethiopians in south and north of Mogadishu.
Witnesses around Former Somalia Defense Ministry told Shabelle that they saw at least 10 people, including 7 government soldiers and three civilians, who died in the gun battle.
Shabelle reporters who went to the area where that fighting was happening reported that they saw seven government soldiers who were wounded and captured by the insurgents.
The Ethiopians based at Defense Ministry compound in south of Mogadishu have been attacked by the gunmen while the Ethiopians have been firing tanks and missiles towards north of Mogadishu. It is not yet known the exact number of civilian casualties in today’s fighting. However, the fighting is continuing for four consecutive hours.
Also Shabelle reporter and a driver were arrested by government soldiers at Mogadishu international airport today, while waiting to cover live reports of a press conference due to be held by prime minister Ali Mohammed Gedi. Local journalists were informed by the premier’s assistants this morning that there would be a press conference which would be held by the prime minister inside the airport.
Government soldiers embarked on arresting journalists when they got the airport.
The fighting comes a day after Hawiye clan issued a press statement condemning the transitional government and threatening they would fight with the government if it did not change what it called the discriminating policy against the Somali clans.
Several bodies of Ethiopian and government troops were thrown at roads of hawlwadag, Bar Ubah and Shirlole neighborhoods as crowds of Somalis began dragging them to the ground.
