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| Big attack on Mogadishu militants | Big attack on Mogadishu militants |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pro-government forces in Somalia have launched a major attack against Islamist militants controlling parts of the capital, Mogadishu. | Pro-government forces in Somalia have launched a major attack against Islamist militants controlling parts of the capital, Mogadishu. |
| The assault is an attempt to recapture areas seized by the rebels. | The assault is an attempt to recapture areas seized by the rebels. |
| Medical sources told the BBC that at least 30 people had been killed in the latest clashes. | Medical sources told the BBC that at least 30 people had been killed in the latest clashes. |
| Supporters of the transitional government - which is recognised by the UN - lost control of about one-third of the city to the militants last week. | |
| Bitter fighting | Bitter fighting |
| Ten days of fierce clashes between the pro-government forces and militant Islamic groups - al-Shabab and Hisbul-Islam - have left more than 100 people dead and displaced about 50,000 civilians. | Ten days of fierce clashes between the pro-government forces and militant Islamic groups - al-Shabab and Hisbul-Islam - have left more than 100 people dead and displaced about 50,000 civilians. |
| This is a large military offensive against violent people Farhan Mahdi MohamedMilitary spokesman Somali justice - Islamist-style Q&A: Somalia's conflict | This is a large military offensive against violent people Farhan Mahdi MohamedMilitary spokesman Somali justice - Islamist-style Q&A: Somalia's conflict |
| The death toll from Friday's fighting could be as high as 45, Reuters news agency reported. | |
| The BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says most of the fighting is focusing on one of the city's main routes, Wadnaha Road. | |
| African Union peacekeepers based in the capital to support the fragile administration are not involved in the attack, he adds. | |
| The 4,300-strong force does not have a mandate to pursue the insurgents. | |
| "This is a large military offensive against violent people," military spokesman Farhan Mahdi Mohamed told AFP news agency. | "This is a large military offensive against violent people," military spokesman Farhan Mahdi Mohamed told AFP news agency. |
| "The government will sweep them out of the capital and the fighting will continue until that happens." | "The government will sweep them out of the capital and the fighting will continue until that happens." |
| A moderate Islamist President, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, was elected by a unity government in January as part of a UN-backed peace initiative. | A moderate Islamist President, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, was elected by a unity government in January as part of a UN-backed peace initiative. |
| But even his introduction of Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country has not appeased the hardline guerrillas, who are accused of links to al-Qaeda. | But even his introduction of Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country has not appeased the hardline guerrillas, who are accused of links to al-Qaeda. |
| Somalia has been mired in conflict for 18 years. | |
| Are you in Mogadishu? Are you affected by the fighting? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in Mogadishu? Are you affected by the fighting? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |