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Ethiopian tanks pound Mogadishu | Ethiopian tanks pound Mogadishu |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Ethiopian tanks are pounding parts of the Somali capital, stepping up a week-long campaign against insurgents and fighters of the Hawiye clan. | Ethiopian tanks are pounding parts of the Somali capital, stepping up a week-long campaign against insurgents and fighters of the Hawiye clan. |
Heavy shelling is also taking place near the presidential palace - guarded by Ethiopian and African Union troops. | Heavy shelling is also taking place near the presidential palace - guarded by Ethiopian and African Union troops. |
And about five people were killed in a suspected suicide bomb attack near a hotel frequented by officials. | And about five people were killed in a suspected suicide bomb attack near a hotel frequented by officials. |
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has called for an end to clashes in which more than 250 people have died in the past week. | UN chief Ban Ki-moon has called for an end to clashes in which more than 250 people have died in the past week. |
Ethiopian forces and insurgents are exchanging heavy fire. Mortar and other artillery shells are also landing, Khalid Haji, a resident at Fagah in the north of the capital told AFP news agency. | Ethiopian forces and insurgents are exchanging heavy fire. Mortar and other artillery shells are also landing, Khalid Haji, a resident at Fagah in the north of the capital told AFP news agency. |
Rotting bodies have been left on the streets for days according to witnesses. | Rotting bodies have been left on the streets for days according to witnesses. |
A BBC reporter in Mogadishu says a car packed with explosives went off near Hotel Ambassador killing mainly civilians. | A BBC reporter in Mogadishu says a car packed with explosives went off near Hotel Ambassador killing mainly civilians. |
Several people were injured but there no reports if any of Somali's interim government officials were harmed. | |
"Many disfigured bodies were strewn on the street after the explosion but its not known who is behind the attack," Shabelle News website reported. | |
'Genocide' | 'Genocide' |
Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi said the government forces were winning the war against insurgents. | Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi said the government forces were winning the war against insurgents. |
Mr Ghedi dismissed claims that Ethiopian backed government forces have committed genocide in Mogadishu during their campaign against insurgents. | Mr Ghedi dismissed claims that Ethiopian backed government forces have committed genocide in Mogadishu during their campaign against insurgents. |
Hawiye clan fighters want Ethiopian troops to leave | Hawiye clan fighters want Ethiopian troops to leave |
Deputy Prime Minister Hussein Aideed, who launched an alliance opposed to Ethiopians in Somalia, in neighbouring Eritrea, has called for an international probe into the killings in the capital. | Deputy Prime Minister Hussein Aideed, who launched an alliance opposed to Ethiopians in Somalia, in neighbouring Eritrea, has called for an international probe into the killings in the capital. |
Aideed should feel ashamed for attacking policies of the government he serves, his conduct will soon be discussed by the cabinet, Mr Ghedi told a news conference in Mogadishu. | Aideed should feel ashamed for attacking policies of the government he serves, his conduct will soon be discussed by the cabinet, Mr Ghedi told a news conference in Mogadishu. |
Ethiopian forces have been in Mogadishu since December last year after helping Somalia's transitional government oust the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). | Ethiopian forces have been in Mogadishu since December last year after helping Somalia's transitional government oust the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). |
Mr Ghedi also blamed the insurgents for the take over of the southern port town of Kismayo on Monday following two days of fighting between rival clans. | Mr Ghedi also blamed the insurgents for the take over of the southern port town of Kismayo on Monday following two days of fighting between rival clans. |
Fighters from the Marehan clan have taken control of the town in what correspondents say is a big blow to the government. | Fighters from the Marehan clan have taken control of the town in what correspondents say is a big blow to the government. |
The UN refugee agency says more than 300,000 people have fled the capital and a living in terrible conditions outside the city. | The UN refugee agency says more than 300,000 people have fled the capital and a living in terrible conditions outside the city. |
UNHCR spokesperson Catherine Weibel told the BBC the agency is now providing relief supplies to about 20,000 displaced persons in Afgooye about 30km from Mogadishu. | UNHCR spokesperson Catherine Weibel told the BBC the agency is now providing relief supplies to about 20,000 displaced persons in Afgooye about 30km from Mogadishu. |
Somalia has not had a functional government since 1991. A transitional government was formed in 2004, but has so far failed to take full control of the country. | Somalia has not had a functional government since 1991. A transitional government was formed in 2004, but has so far failed to take full control of the country. |
Ethiopian troops have started to withdraw, to be replaced by an African Union peacekeeping force, but only 1,200 of the 8,000 troops the AU says it needs have been deployed. | Ethiopian troops have started to withdraw, to be replaced by an African Union peacekeeping force, but only 1,200 of the 8,000 troops the AU says it needs have been deployed. |