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Somali leader targets hard-liners Somali leader blames hard-liners
(10 minutes later)
Somalia's embattled President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has vowed to defend his fragile government from renewed attacks by hard-line Islamists. Somalia's embattled President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has blamed radical Islamists for the renewed bloodshed in Mogadishu, in a BBC interview.
In an interview with the BBC, he blamed opposition forces for the ongoing bloodshed in the capital, Mogadishu. President Sharif said the hard-liners had no interest in ending the violence and wanted to take Somalia by force.
President Sharif said the radicals had no interest in ending the violence and wanted to take Somalia by force.
Four days of fighting between pro-government forces and Islamist groups has left more than 50 people dead.Four days of fighting between pro-government forces and Islamist groups has left more than 50 people dead.
President Sharif took office in January after UN-brokered reconciliation talks. President Sharif took office in January leading the Western-backed government after UN-brokered peace talks.
But even his government's introduction of Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country has not appeased the radical guerrillas who battle pro-government forces and African Union troops in the capital almost daily. But even his fragile administration's introduction of Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country has not appeased the radical guerrillas who battle pro-government forces and African Union troops in the capital almost daily.
They don't want the violence in Somalia to end President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh AhmedThey don't want the violence in Somalia to end President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed
President Sharif told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme: "You see that the opposition is using the violence and killing and bloodshed, they don't want the violence in Somalia to end and the objective is to take the country by force.President Sharif told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme: "You see that the opposition is using the violence and killing and bloodshed, they don't want the violence in Somalia to end and the objective is to take the country by force.
"We are trying to complete setting up the Somali armed forces which is under way now. We need to pass this difficult stage.""We are trying to complete setting up the Somali armed forces which is under way now. We need to pass this difficult stage."
The fragile interim government has been fighting radical Islamist groups like al-Shabab in long-running violence which has killed thousands of people since 2006.The fragile interim government has been fighting radical Islamist groups like al-Shabab in long-running violence which has killed thousands of people since 2006.
The latest bloodshed began on Thursday and escalated over the weekend in a district close to the presidential palace, then continued on Monday.The latest bloodshed began on Thursday and escalated over the weekend in a district close to the presidential palace, then continued on Monday.
Witnesses said at least two people were killed when a mortar shell landed near a cafe in northern Mogadishu, according to reports.Witnesses said at least two people were killed when a mortar shell landed near a cafe in northern Mogadishu, according to reports.
Journalist Mohammed Sheikh Noor in Mogadishu told the BBC's Network Africa programme residents were fleeing with their belongings in streets littered with dead civilians.Journalist Mohammed Sheikh Noor in Mogadishu told the BBC's Network Africa programme residents were fleeing with their belongings in streets littered with dead civilians.
Meanwhile, maritime officials later announced Somali pirates had released a Greek owned chemical tanker that was seized in March.Meanwhile, maritime officials later announced Somali pirates had released a Greek owned chemical tanker that was seized in March.
'Somalia's tragedy''Somalia's tragedy'
Eighteen Filipinos and a Russian were on board the Nipayia when it was hijacked off the coast of Somalia. It is not clear if a ransom was paid for its release on Saturday.Eighteen Filipinos and a Russian were on board the Nipayia when it was hijacked off the coast of Somalia. It is not clear if a ransom was paid for its release on Saturday.
Foreign navies have been patrolling the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden to deter pirates.Foreign navies have been patrolling the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden to deter pirates.
But attacks increased tenfold in the first three months of the year compared to the same period last year and at least 18 vessels are still being held by Somali pirates.But attacks increased tenfold in the first three months of the year compared to the same period last year and at least 18 vessels are still being held by Somali pirates.
The UN's special representative to Somalia, Mohammed Ould Abdullah, earlier told the BBC efforts to negotiate peace were complicated by the constantly shifting array of factions.The UN's special representative to Somalia, Mohammed Ould Abdullah, earlier told the BBC efforts to negotiate peace were complicated by the constantly shifting array of factions.
"This is the tragedy of Somalia - every group is hiding another group, which is itself hiding another group," he said."This is the tragedy of Somalia - every group is hiding another group, which is itself hiding another group," he said.
Somalia, a nation of about eight million people, has experienced almost constant conflict since the collapse of its central government in January 1991.Somalia, a nation of about eight million people, has experienced almost constant conflict since the collapse of its central government in January 1991.