Saturday, August 23, 2008

Residents of a village 60 kilometres (37 miles) west of Kismayo, however, reported fresh clashes in which several people were injured.

"Kismayo is relatively calm today (Saturday) but residents in Janayabdale village reported new clashes in the area," said Moalim Adan Warfa, an elder from Kismayo.

Islamist insurgents hide behind a building during clashes in Mogadishu's Fagah neighborhood in 2007

"The remnants of the clan militias and some of their commanders tried to cross Janayabdale where they encountered an attack from the Islamists; several people were injured in the clashes," said villager Hasan Muktar.

In Kismayo, residents said they feared a resumption of fighting.

"There was some sporadic gunfire overnight (from Friday to Saturday) but no fighting," food store owner Abdisalan Mohamud said.

"The major battle is over... but the militiamen that were dislodged by Islamists may try their luck to regain the town," said driver Liban Abdi, adding that he did not expect them to be successful.

The Islamists retook Kismayo more than a year after being driven out by Ethiopian forces backing the Somali government.

At least 41 people died in the clashes, which began on Wednesday, and hundreds of civilians and fighters were reported to have been injured.

Ethiopian troops rolled into Somalia, which has lacked an effective government since 1991, in late 2006 at the request of the embattled transitional administration.

They ousted the Islamist militia which had controlled large parts of the Horn of Africa country but the Islamists have since reverted to guerrilla warfare and have been targeting Somali government forces, Ethiopian troops and African Union peacekeepers almost daily.

Civilians have borne the brunt of the battles with at least 6,000 people killed in the past year alone.

SOURCE: AFP, August 23, 2008