Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The clashes erupted when Shebab fighters stormed the Galgalato government military base in northern Mogadishu.
"Units from our holy warriors attacked Galgalato early this morning and took control of the area," Shebab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage told reporters.
He claimed his forces had killed several government soldiers and seized some of their vehicles.
A government security official confirmed the fighting.
"There was fighting in Galgalato where our forces were attacked this morning and, of course, there should be casualties but I cannot give you more details," Abukar Mohamed told AFP.
Witnesses said several combatants were killed and confirmed that the insurgents had taken control of the area.
"The fighting that broke out after the early morning prayers left six people dead. They were all combatants," Husein Alasow, a resident in nearby Karan district, told AFP.
"I saw Islamists with armed vehicles manning checkpoints in Galgalato after the fighting and several dead bodies were strewn around the area," another witness Abdulahi Moalim Ali, said.
Other witnesses gave the same death toll.
Since insurgent groups launched a major offensive against the administration of President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on May 7, intense fighting has killed more than 250 people, civilians and combatants.
More than 122,000 people have also been displaced, according to the United Nations.
Source: AFP, June 16, 2009