This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6905958.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Battle mars Somalia peace talks | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least two people have reportedly been killed during heavy fighting in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, as a reconciliation conference is to open. | |
| Witnesses said that insurgents fired mortars into the city's main market, sparking a fierce army response. | |
| "It was the worst gun battle I have ever heard," said Mohamud Ibrahim. "They used all sorts of weapons." | |
| The conference has been repeatedly postponed, with a boycott by Islamists and Mogadishu's clan elders. | The conference has been repeatedly postponed, with a boycott by Islamists and Mogadishu's clan elders. |
| The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says some people have fled the area around Bakara market, where attacks are common. | The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says some people have fled the area around Bakara market, where attacks are common. |
| Nuclear | |
| The conference venue is far away, in north Mogadishu but our reporter says the explosions could be heard there, sparking fears it could be attacked. | The conference venue is far away, in north Mogadishu but our reporter says the explosions could be heard there, sparking fears it could be attacked. |
| Police said one soldier and one civilian died. | |
| Islamists have threatened to attack the conference, reports the AP news agency. | Islamists have threatened to attack the conference, reports the AP news agency. |
| But President Abdullahi Yusuf has said the internationally-backed talks will go ahead even if a nuclear bomb is dropped. | But President Abdullahi Yusuf has said the internationally-backed talks will go ahead even if a nuclear bomb is dropped. |
| Several mortar shells landed near the venue on Sunday, injuring civilians, when the conference was first opened. | Several mortar shells landed near the venue on Sunday, injuring civilians, when the conference was first opened. |
| It was immediately postponed to let give some of the more than 1,000 delegates more time to arrive. | It was immediately postponed to let give some of the more than 1,000 delegates more time to arrive. |
| The main Islamist opposition have refused to attend, saying the venue is not neutral, while Ethiopian troops remain in the country. | The main Islamist opposition have refused to attend, saying the venue is not neutral, while Ethiopian troops remain in the country. |
| Ethiopia helped government troops oust Islamists from Mogadishu last December. | |
| Somalia has been without a functioning government for 16 years. | Somalia has been without a functioning government for 16 years. |