Thursday, April 12, 2007
MOGADISHU (AFP) - At least 18 people were killed and several wounded when rival sub-clans clashed in southwestern Somalia, elders said Thurday.
The Gelidle and Ajuran sub-clans fought for about 12 hours Wednesday in Dinsoor, about 270 kilometers (170 miles) west of the capital when one group refused to hand over an individual wanted by their rivals for an unknown misdeed, they said.
"We have counted 18 bodies from the two sides killed, while 10 were wounded," Mohamed Bare, a local elder told AFP.
He said both sides were insisting on continuing the fighting but the elders had demanded an unconditional ceasefire.
A medic, Mahdi Arab, said the wounded had been taken to a clinic in Dinsoor, but feared there could be more fighting.
"I have seen two pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns rushing to the area. There was heavy fighting that continued for about 12 hours, I believe more people have been killed," he told AFP from Dinsoor.
Inter-clan fighting is common in Somalia, a nation whose effective government collapsed after the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
Source: AFP, April 12, 2007