Mogadishu remains calm as sporadic gunfire. ICU MAKE PROGRES

[Hiiraan boy]

(SomaliNet) Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia today is calmer than the past two days in which heavy fighting raged between forces loyal to the transitional government and local insurgents in north of the city. The two-day renewed battle left six civilians dead and more than 30 others wounded, Red Crescent officials said on Friday.

Witnesses confirmed that the Islamist fighters made a little progress in the latest clashes advancing towards government positions in Fagah neighborhood, north of the capital.

No one can verify the casualty of the warring sides. Sporadic fire could still be heard in the capital as rival sides shoot each other by chance. Sources say that both sides are preparing themselves again for another round of clashes.

The fighting began in the area between Ramadan and Kaah hotels in north of Mogadishu, which had been the headquarters of an Islamist leadership that ruled much of the southern Somalia briefly until Ethiopia overthrew it in December.

Meanwhile, on Thursday the Ethiopian military officials met clan leaders in a bid to revive a cease-fire that was reached earlier this month, but the meeting broke up over an Ethiopian demand that all militia commanders take part in the talks, a spokesman for the Hawiye elders said.