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Somali radical takes over militia Mogadishu victims swamp hospitals
(about 3 hours later)
The head of Somali Islamist armed group Hisbul-Islam has passed the leadership to radical cleric Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who is on the US terror list. Doctors at one of the main hospitals in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, say they have been swamped with patients injured in an upsurge of fighting.
Omar Abubakar said he had not come under any pressure to hand over. Medics say some of the casualties are being admitted with horrific injuries.
Mr Aweys, who returned from exile last month, has urged Somalis to oppose the unity government led by his ex-ally President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. At Medina Hospital, tents have been set up in the corridors and mattresses laid under trees outside for the victims.
It came as Mogadishu's main hospital said it could barely cope with the flood of wounded amid recent bloodshed. It comes as a radical cleric on the US terror list, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, formally became leader of the Somali Islamist rebel group Hisbul-Islam.
Dr Mohamed Yusuf told the BBC that the 60-bed Medina Hospital was bursting at the seams with patients and many had to lie in tents in the corridors. The militia, and an allied hardline group, al-Shabab, have been locked in fierce battles with pro-government forces that have displaced more than 60,000 civilians since 7 May.
He said more than 200 casualties had been admitted amid a recent upsurge in clashes. Blast injuries
Pro-government forces and militant Islamic groups - Hisbul-Islam and al-Shabab - have been locked in battles that have displaced more than 60,000 civilians since 7 May. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which funds and runs two of Mogadishu's three hospitals, Medina and Keysaney, told the BBC more than 650 patients have sought treatment since the clashes began and that many more were trapped in conflict zones.
The BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the capital was quiet on Wednesday after two weeks of almost continual fighting. We are very stretched but at the moment no-one is being turned away ICRC's Pedram Yazdiof class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/4760775.stm">Q&A: Somalia's conflict
It said a number of patients had bullet and shrapnel wounds as well as blast injuries from shells landing on their homes.
"We are very stretched but at the moment no-one is being turned away and we can cope with the pressure," said Pedram Yazdiof, of the ICRC in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
He said fighting in the southern Medina district of the city over the past two days had made it difficult for some staff to get to the hospital.
The BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the capital was relatively quiet on Wednesday after two weeks of almost continual fighting.
Meanwhile, the outgoing head of rebel group Hisbul-Islam, Omar Abubakar, said he had not come under any pressure to hand over the leadership to Mr Aweys.
Peacekeeper renewalPeacekeeper renewal
Hisbul-Islam was formed after Mr Ahmed become president in January, with Mr Aweys as its spiritual leader. Mr Aweys, who returned from exile last month, was already regarded as the spiritual leader of Hisbul-Islam, say correspondents.
Islamist militiamen control large swathes of territory in Somalia The group was formed in January to fight the unity government led by Mr Aweys' one-time ally, President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
President Ahmed's introduction of Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country has not appeased the radical guerrillas, who have sworn to topple the administration and impose a stricter version of Islamic law. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys spent two years in exile in Eritrea
Mr Aweys fled to Eritrea in 2007 after Ethiopian troops ousted his movement, the Union of Islamic Courts, which he led with Mr Ahmed. President Ahmed's introduction of Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country has not appeased radicals like Mr Aweys, who have sworn to topple the administration and impose a stricter version of Islamic rule.
He split from the more moderate Mr Ahmed after the latter agreed to UN-led peace talks that brought him to power as president in January and saw Ethiopian troops pull out. Mr Aweys fled to Eritrea in 2007 after Ethiopian troops ousted his movement, the Union of Islamic Courts, which he had led with Mr Ahmed.
He accuses President Ahmed and the unity government of being unelected and unrepresentative and wants African Union peacekeeping troops to leave the country. He split from the more moderate Mr Ahmed after the latter agreed to UN-led peace talks that brought the latter to power as president in January and saw Ethiopian troops pull out.
Mr Aweys accuses President Ahmed and the unity government of being unelected and unrepresentative and wants African Union (AU) peacekeepers to leave the country.
The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the 4,300-strong AU mission in Somalia for eight months, and to provide more stable financing.The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the 4,300-strong AU mission in Somalia for eight months, and to provide more stable financing.
John Sawers, the British ambassador at the UN, said this would cost between $200m and $300m. John Sawers, the British ambassador at the UN, said this would cost between $200m and $300m (£190m).
The council also urged member states to fund, and provide training for, the Somali military and police so that they can play a greater role in providing security. The Security Council also urged member states to fund, and provide training for, the Somali military and police so that they can play a greater role in providing security.
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.