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| Somali insurgents strike seaport | Somali insurgents strike seaport |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Somali insurgents have attacked the capital's seaport as African Union (AU) troops sought to secure the area for AU military equipment arriving by sea. | Somali insurgents have attacked the capital's seaport as African Union (AU) troops sought to secure the area for AU military equipment arriving by sea. |
| AU spokesman Paddy Ankunda said the attack, which killed five people, will not deter them from their mission. | AU spokesman Paddy Ankunda said the attack, which killed five people, will not deter them from their mission. |
| Meanwhile, security has been beefed up around the presidential palace as the AU's security chief arrived for talks with the country's interim president. | |
| Thousands have fled Mogadishu since the Islamists were ousted last year. | Thousands have fled Mogadishu since the Islamists were ousted last year. |
| The government blames remnants of the Union of Islamic Courts for the escalating violence in Mogadishu and plans to forcefully disarm residents at the capital which is awash with weapons. | The government blames remnants of the Union of Islamic Courts for the escalating violence in Mogadishu and plans to forcefully disarm residents at the capital which is awash with weapons. |
| Ethiopian troops, who have been in the city since December supporting Somali forces loyal to the transitional government, have been gradually handing over responsibilities to the 1,200-strong AU force | Ethiopian troops, who have been in the city since December supporting Somali forces loyal to the transitional government, have been gradually handing over responsibilities to the 1,200-strong AU force |
| Sporadic mortar attacks | Sporadic mortar attacks |
| "Six mortars landed inside the port but none of our soldiers was wounded since we had taken the necessary precautions," Captain Ankunda said. | "Six mortars landed inside the port but none of our soldiers was wounded since we had taken the necessary precautions," Captain Ankunda said. |
| The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the attack was launched after AU troops suspended activities at the port to enable them off-load military equipment. | The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the attack was launched after AU troops suspended activities at the port to enable them off-load military equipment. |
| Government troops backed by Ethiopians retaliated and during a heavy exchange 14 people were caught in the crossfire, our reporter says. | Government troops backed by Ethiopians retaliated and during a heavy exchange 14 people were caught in the crossfire, our reporter says. |
| Insurgents have continued sporadic mortar attacks near the port. | Insurgents have continued sporadic mortar attacks near the port. |
| The AU troops from Uganda have now reinforced positions around the presidential palace a day after taking over security duties at the port. | The AU troops from Uganda have now reinforced positions around the presidential palace a day after taking over security duties at the port. |
| Mr Djinnit is in Mogadishu on a one-day visit for talks with President Abdullahi Yusuf. | Mr Djinnit is in Mogadishu on a one-day visit for talks with President Abdullahi Yusuf. |
| More peacekeepers from Nigeria, Ghana and other countries are due to arrive in Somalia in the next few weeks. | More peacekeepers from Nigeria, Ghana and other countries are due to arrive in Somalia in the next few weeks. |
| Hundreds of people were spotted fleeing from the capital aboard mini-buses on Tuesday following Monday night's heavy fire exchange between government troops and insurgents. | Hundreds of people were spotted fleeing from the capital aboard mini-buses on Tuesday following Monday night's heavy fire exchange between government troops and insurgents. |
| Somalia enjoyed a six-month lull in the insecurity that had dogged the country for the past 16 years, when the UIC took power last year. | Somalia enjoyed a six-month lull in the insecurity that had dogged the country for the past 16 years, when the UIC took power last year. |
| But violence has escalated in the capital over the last two months. | But violence has escalated in the capital over the last two months. |
| The UN says some, 40,000 people have fled from Mogadishu since February following the violence. | The UN says some, 40,000 people have fled from Mogadishu since February following the violence. |
| Somalia's deputy Defence Minister Salad Ali Jelle has announced plans to deploy 4,000 newly trained soldiers to disarm residents at the capital. | Somalia's deputy Defence Minister Salad Ali Jelle has announced plans to deploy 4,000 newly trained soldiers to disarm residents at the capital. |
| Mr Jelle pledged that the troops will pacify the city in 30 days ahead of the relocation of the government from its temporary sit in Baidoa. | Mr Jelle pledged that the troops will pacify the city in 30 days ahead of the relocation of the government from its temporary sit in Baidoa. |
| The parliament has approved plans to move the cabinet from Baidoa to Mogadishu. | The parliament has approved plans to move the cabinet from Baidoa to Mogadishu. |