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| Fierce battle in Somali capital | |
| (about 7 hours 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 forces said they had made some progress during fierce clashes - a claim denied by the opposition leader. | |
| At least 36 people were killed and some 180 wounded, medical sources say. | |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| "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." |
| The pro-government forces said later on Friday they had made some progress against the militants and then retreated for strategic reasons. | |
| But opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys said his fighters had been holding ground after repelling the attack. | |
| African Union peacekeepers based in the capital to support the fragile administration are not involved in the attack, our correspondent says. | |
| The 4,300-strong force does not have a mandate to pursue the insurgents. | |
| 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. | 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 |