The head of the African Union says more peacekeepers are urgently needed in Somalia's capital after more than a week of intense fighting.

Alpha Oumar Konaré (Aug 2006)

He appealed for more contributions from AU members, saying they are needed immediately to secure the Somali capital.

Mogadishu's streets were relatively calm Friday as Ethiopian and Somali troops searched for any remaining insurgents.

There was was at least one incident of looting, with men in army uniforms stealing computers and other property from a Coca-Cola bottling plant.

Somali Transitional Federal Soldiers with an anti aircraft gun mounted on the pickup and soldiers carrying AK 47's in the street of Mogadishu, 27 Apr 2007

Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi announced Thursday that allied forces had seized a large portion of rebel-controlled territory. He claimed victory over the insurgents in an interview with the Associated Press.

Ethiopian troops entered Somalia last year to help the interim government drive a rival Islamist movement from power. Insurgents began attacking government targets in January, soon after Islamist leaders vowed to continue fighting.

Source: VOA, April 28, 2007