At least 12 people were killed and dozens wounded in heavy fighting in the Somali capital on Thursday in the latest confrontations between Ethiopian troops and Islamist-led insurgents, witnesses said.Residents said several Ethiopian units based in north Mogadishu had marched towards the capital's sprawling Bakara market where insurgents confronted them, prompting fierce gun battles and exchanges of mortar rounds. "I saw two dead Ethiopian soldiers lying in the middle of the road. There were also two Somalis wounded in the crossfire," witness Abdi Ahmed told Reuters by phone.
The Somali government and Ethiopia believe Bakara is a hotbed of insurgents, and have routinely attacked it while carrying out sweeps for insurgents.
Hassan Abdikafi, a kiosk owner in Bakara, said Ethiopian tanks fired into the crowded market -- the main one in the city. "Four dead people are lying inside the market. I can also see nine wounded people. The Ethiopian forces have occupied Blacksea area and they are firing their tank guns towards the market," Abdikafi said.
Mortar bombs killed six more and wounded four, witnesses said. "Two mortar rounds hit two homes next to each other. The first one killed five people from the same family and the other one killed one person, wounding at least four others," resident Sahra Hashi told Reuters.