An exchange of mortar shells between Somali government forces and rebels killed at least nine civilians and injured 14 others, a human rights group said on Monday. The clashes started late Sunday and continued Monday morning, the Elman Peace and Human Rights Organization said."These casualties are from the overnight shelling. We are still monitoring Monday's casualties. The shelling was terrible," said Ali Yasin Gedi, Elman's vice chairman.
Residents said government shells targeted houses occupied by Islamist al Shabaab rebels in the north of Mogadishu. Washington says the group is al Qaeda's proxy in the region.
"We saw al Shabaab carrying their dead and injured in a minibus. But we do not know the exact figure of the deaths," Hassan Nur, a resident, told Reuters. "The government shells almost leveled houses that housed local and foreign al Shabaab people."
A government official who wanted to remain anonymous told Reuters the pro-government Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca militia was meeting a government delegation in neighboring Addis Ababa. "Currently the talks are continuing. We're discussing with Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca on how best we can accommodate them both politically and militarily. If it goes well at this first stage, then we will focus on uniting forces to face on war," he said.