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Deadly battle in Somali capital Gun battle mars Somali peace deal
(about 2 hours later)
At least three people have been killed outside Somalia's presidential palace in the capital as militiamen exchanged heavy gunfire with presidential guards. Some of the warlords who have fought in Somalia for 16 years have agreed to surrender their weapons - after a battle, which left five dead.
A rocket-propelled grenade was used in the battle, sparked by a dispute over where to park an armoured vehicle. The warlords agreed to lay down their guns after meeting President Abdullahi Yusuf in the capital, Mogadishu.
The fire fight came as a group of warlords were inside Villa Somalia holding talks with the president. As the talks were being held, gunmen loyal to one of the warlords battled presidential guards outside.
The warlords and President Abdullahi Yusuf have returned to Mogadishu, after the ousting of an Islamist group. The warlords and the president returned to Mogadishu this week, after the ousting of an Islamist group.
Meanwhile, aid agency Oxfam says that at least 70 people were killed in this week's air strikes against Islamists and suspected al-Qaeda operatives.
"According to the reports from local organisations in Afmadow district, bombs have hit vital water sources as well as large groups of nomads and their animals who had gathered round large fires at night to ward off mosquitoes," Oxfam said.
Djibouti, which hosts a large United States anti-terror base, condemned this week's US air strikes in neighbouring Somalia.
Rocket-propelled grenade
"The warlords and the government have agreed to collaborate for the restoration of peace in Somalia," said government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari following the talks in Somalia's presidential palace.
"The agreement means they have to disarm their militia and their men have to join the national army," he said.
Location of militias and US Navy patrols
The gun battle, in which a rocket-propelled grenade was used, was reportedly sparked by a dispute over where to park an armoured vehicle.
"They killed five of our fighters on the spot and wounded seven others, some of them seriously," said a gunman loyal to warlord Mohamed Qanyare Afrah.
"They refused to allow our wounded to be taken to hospitals."
Such clashes between gunmen loyal to rival warlords were fairly common during 15 years of lawlessness in Somalia.Such clashes between gunmen loyal to rival warlords were fairly common during 15 years of lawlessness in Somalia.
After seizing Mogadishu from the warlords last June, the Union of Islamic Courts removed most of the militias from the streets and many residents welcomed an increase in their security.After seizing Mogadishu from the warlords last June, the Union of Islamic Courts removed most of the militias from the streets and many residents welcomed an increase in their security.
Government and Ethiopian forces routed the Islamists in recent weeks.Government and Ethiopian forces routed the Islamists in recent weeks.
The Islamists denied accusations that they were sheltering senior al-Qaeda operatives, accused of carrying out attacks in East Africa.The Islamists denied accusations that they were sheltering senior al-Qaeda operatives, accused of carrying out attacks in East Africa.
Air strikes condemnedAir strikes condemned
Earlier, Djibouti, which hosts a large United States anti-terror base, condemned this week's US air strikes in neighbouring Somalia. Earlier, Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf told the BBC that the raid was counterproductive to achieving peace.
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf told the BBC that the raid was counterproductive to achieving peace.
Location of militias and US Navy patrols
He said his government had not received prior warning about the strikes, which are reported to have been launched from the US base in Djibouti on Monday.He said his government had not received prior warning about the strikes, which are reported to have been launched from the US base in Djibouti on Monday.
The US says it was targeting al-Qaeda suspects but says they were not killed. The US says it was targeting al-Qaeda operatives but says the three top suspects were not killed.
Somali's interim government has backed the air strikes, in which a US official says that Somalis linked to al-Qaeda were killed.Somali's interim government has backed the air strikes, in which a US official says that Somalis linked to al-Qaeda were killed.
Deaths 'justified'Deaths 'justified'
Mr Mahmoud also said his government was very worried about reports of Somali civilian casualties and that past foreign military intervention in Somalia had not brought about the expected result.
This is presumably a reference to the last US intervention in Somalia, from 1992-94, which ended in a humiliating withdrawal following the killing of 18 US troops.
HAVE YOUR SAY I cannot believe the US has launched air strikes against Somalia Nimco Hussein Send us your comments Key bombing suspects Fear returns to Mogadishu's streets
The US 1,500-strong Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa was set up in Djibouti following the 9/11 attacks on the US.The US 1,500-strong Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa was set up in Djibouti following the 9/11 attacks on the US.
The US has long said that the 1998 attacks on its East African embassies and the 2002 attacks on Israeli targets in Kenya had strong links to Somalia.The US has long said that the 1998 attacks on its East African embassies and the 2002 attacks on Israeli targets in Kenya had strong links to Somalia.
But it says the top three suspects in those attacks - Comoros national Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, Kenyan Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan and Abu Taha al-Sudani of Sudan - all survived this week's air strikes. HAVE YOUR SAY I cannot believe the US has launched air strikes against Somalia Nimco Hussein href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5193&edition=1" class="">Send us your comments href="/1/hi/world/africa/6247879.stm" class="">Key bombing suspects href="/1/hi/world/africa/6252359.stm" class="">Fear returns to Mogadishu's streets But it says the top three suspects in those attacks - Comoros national Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, Kenyan Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan and Abu Taha al-Sudani of Sudan - all survived this week's air strikes.
Somali officials had earlier reported that Mr Mohammed had been killed.Somali officials had earlier reported that Mr Mohammed had been killed.
The US government is offering a $5m reward for his capture.The US government is offering a $5m reward for his capture.
US ambassador for Kenya and Somalia Michael Ranneberger has denied reports that a number of civilians had died in the attack.US ambassador for Kenya and Somalia Michael Ranneberger has denied reports that a number of civilians had died in the attack.
Deputy Somali Prime Minister Hussein Aideed, however, told the BBC that the loss of civilian lives during the attacks was justified to stop "an alliance of the ousted Islamic Courts Union and al-Qaeda" from taking over Somalia and then going to Kenya and Ethiopia. Reports suggest Ethiopian MiG fighters and helicopter gunships seen in the city of Kismayo may have been involved in subsequent air strikes.
Residents of Afmadow town and Ras Kamboni reported further attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday but Mr Ranneberger said these had not been carried out by US forces.
Reports suggest Ethiopian MiG fighters and helicopter gunships seen in the city of Kismayo may be involved.
Aid workers report that more 1,000 people have been wounded since fighting erupted in December.Aid workers report that more 1,000 people have been wounded since fighting erupted in December.
However, there is no reliable information on casualties in the current fighting in the remote south.However, there is no reliable information on casualties in the current fighting in the remote south.
Correspondents say the situation on the ground in southern Somalia remains unclear, with communications in the area poor.
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