The Somali capital Mogadishu is being wracked by the worst fighting in 15 years, with dozens killed and thousands fleeing the violence, aid agencies say.
The Somali capital Mogadishu is being wracked by the worst fighting in 15 years, with dozens killed and thousands fleeing the violence, aid agencies say.
The bloodshed started on Thursday when Somali and Ethiopian troops launched an offensive against Islamist insurgents.
Fighting resumed on Saturday for the third day, since Somali and Ethiopian troops launched an offensive against Islamist insurgents.
On Friday an Ethiopian helicopter was shot down while attacking the rebels.
Ethiopia said it had killed 200 rebels in the course of the operation.
Residents said the fighting was so bad that bodies could not even be cleared from the streets, meaning the full death toll was unclear.
But civilians said the city was being shelled indiscriminately, and that bodies were lying in the streets.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the fighting was the heaviest in Mogadishu in 15 years, since the aftermath of the overthrow of Siad Barre in 1991.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the fighting was the heaviest in Mogadishu in 15 years, since the aftermath of the overthrow of Siad Barre in 1991.
I saw two of my neighbours get killed - I'm not going to stay here anymore Mohamed Deq Abukar AroniMogadishu resident
I saw two of my neighbours get killed - I'm not going to stay here anymore Mohamed Deq Abukar AroniMogadishu resident
Since then the country has been torn by constant fighting. A rare six months of order imposed by the Islamists ended when they were ousted by Ethiopian troops in December.
Since then the country has been torn by constant fighting. A rare six months of order imposed by the Islamists ended when they were ousted by Ethiopian troops in December.
One resident said that, despite the capital's violent past, he had never been forced to leave, until now.
One resident said that, despite the capital's violent past, he had never been forced to leave, until now.
"Today I'm fleeing because shells are hitting residential areas indiscriminately," said Mohamed Deq Abukar Aroni, carrying two mattresses on his head, while his children carried belongings in paper bags.
"Today I'm fleeing because shells are hitting residential areas indiscriminately," said Mohamed Deq Abukar Aroni, carrying two mattresses on his head, while his children carried belongings in paper bags.
"I saw two of my neighbours get killed. I'm not going to stay here anymore," he told the Associated Press.
"I saw two of my neighbours get killed. I'm not going to stay here anymore," he told the Associated Press.
Helicopter hit
Helicopter hit
A doctor at Alhayat Hospital said the building had come under mortar fire, and two staff had been wounded.
A doctor at Alhayat Hospital said the building had come under mortar fire, and two staff had been wounded.
"Since early this morning I have been hiding here from the mortar shells so I can't help rescue people. I urge the two sides to respect health facilities," Dr Mohamed Dhere told AP.
"Since early this morning I have been hiding here from the mortar shells so I can't help rescue people. I urge the two sides to respect health facilities," Dr Mohamed Dhere told AP on Friday.
Dozens of people died in heavy fighting on Thursday
Dozens of people died in heavy fighting on Thursday
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for an immediate end to the fighting, saying in a statement he was "particularly concerned about the use of air strikes and the introduction of tanks and heavy artillery into densely populated parts of the city".
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for an immediate end to the fighting, saying in a statement he was "particularly concerned about the use of air strikes and the introduction of tanks and heavy artillery into densely populated parts of the city".
Ethiopia's information ministry said 200 members of the Union of Islamic Courts had been killed in the two-day offensive, but there was no independent confirmation of this.
Ethiopia's information ministry said 200 members of the Union of Islamic Courts had been killed in the two-day offensive, but there was no independent confirmation of this.
Witnesses described how two Ethiopian helicopters fired on a rebel stronghold on Friday, before one of them was hit by an anti-aircraft missile.
Witnesses described how two Ethiopian helicopters fired on a rebel stronghold on Friday, before one of them was hit by an anti-aircraft missile.
"Smoke billowed from the cabin and it turned towards the ocean," Swiss journalist Eugen Sorg told Reuters.
"Smoke billowed from the cabin and it turned towards the ocean," Swiss journalist Eugen Sorg told Reuters.
"It crashed at the south end of the airport runway."
"It crashed at the south end of the airport runway."
A spokesman for Ugandan troops, in Somalia as part of an African Union (AU) peacekeeping force, said they had recovered the bodies of two crew.
A spokesman for Ugandan troops, in Somalia as part of an African Union (AU) peacekeeping force, said they had recovered the bodies of two crew.
'Terrorist links'
'Terrorist links'
Some 1,700 Ugandan troops are in Mogadishu as the advance party of an 8,000-strong AU force, which is supposed to replace the Ethiopian troops as they gradually withdraw.
Some 1,700 Ugandan troops are in Mogadishu as the advance party of an 8,000-strong AU force, which is supposed to replace the Ethiopian troops as they gradually withdraw.
Somalia's Interim Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Ghedi said the operation would continue in order to restore stability to Mogadishu.
Somalia's Interim Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Ghedi said the operation would continue in order to restore stability to Mogadishu.
"There are some insurgents in the city who have links with international terrorists and are fighting against the government and the people of Somalia," Mr Ghedi told the BBC Network Africa from the Arab League summit.
"There are some insurgents in the city who have links with international terrorists and are fighting against the government and the people of Somalia," Mr Ghedi told the BBC Network Africa from the Arab League summit.
He said plans for the national reconciliation conference in April were under way and they have invited moderate Islamic scholars to the conference.
He said plans for the national reconciliation conference in April were under way and they have invited moderate Islamic scholars to the conference.
Are you in Mogadishu? If you would be willing to speak to the BBC News website about the situation in the city, please use the form below to send us your contact details.
Are you in Mogadishu? If you would be willing to speak to the BBC News website about the situation in the city, please use the form below to send us your contact details.
