3rd day fighting near Bakara- Al shabab claims victory

[Coeus]

Sporadic fighting still between the transitional government troops and al-shabab still continues near Bakara market for the 3rd day in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, just as al-shabab militias claimed victories over the clashes, officials said on Tuesday.

The fighting occurred around Bakara Market in Hodan district, killing a civilian, injuring 5 others in the neighborhoods in the frontlines of the fighting.



There are no reports indicating the exact casualties of on going fighting between Shabab and the Somali transitional federal government backed by the African union peacekeeping forces in Mogadishu.



50 people died and over 100 people injured in the past two days and mostly civilians and they were rushed to Medina and Daynile hospitals in Mogadishu according to health, emergency traffic and government officials.



Most of the areas where the clashes continued were the neighborhood of the African village, KPP and Bakara intersections.



On the other hand, a statement issued by al-shabab said that they killed high commander of the transitional government of Somalia in the frontlines of Hodan and Hawl-wadag districts in the capital condemning the African Union troops AMISOM for the bombardment of the tall buildings of the business companies of Somalia.



The statement of Al-shabab written in English language said lastly that al-shabab was ready any offensive from AMISOM or the transitional government of Somalia.



We had contacted with the officials of the Somali government to know more about the latest clashes and claim of al-shabab, but was not possible for us to get them through the telephone.