NAIROBI, 24 Jul 2002
(IRIN) - At least 30 people have been killed and over 50 wounded in two days of
fighting in Mogadishu, with thousands displaced, local sources told IRIN on
Wednesday.
The fighting, in the southwestern Medina district, broke out early Tuesday
morning, when militia loyal to Mogadishu faction leader Muse Sudi Yalahow
attacked a house belonging to his erstwhile ally, Umar Mahmud Muhammad Finish.
The clashes subsided later in the day, but resumed on Wednesday at around 08:30
local time (05:30 GMT).
Medina Hospital sources told IRIN that they had 16 new cases of wounded people
from Wednesday's fighting. Most of the victims were women and children caught up
in the crossfire, they added. "We estimate that at least 30 have been killed and
over 50 wounded since yesterday [Tuesday]," said one doctor.
The numbers relate only to those reaching the hospitals, but exclude many people
buried where they died, or being cared for at home. "Once the real numbers come
out, I am certain the figures will be higher," the doctor said.
The latest round of fighting started when Yalahow's militia, which reportedly
lost ground in Tuesday's fighting, counterattacked the positions of Finish's
militia on Wednesday morning, a Medina resident told IRIN.
Finish is Yalahow's former right-hand man, and both belong to the Da'ud subclan
of the Abgal. The fighting is said to be the result of an attempt by Yalahow to
strengthen his position before forthcoming peace talks due to take place in the
Kenyan capital, Nairobi, in September.
Meanwhile, thousands of families have been displaced by the current fighting, a
local journalist told IRIN.
"Many families have been fleeing their homes in Medina since yesterday [Tuesday]
to escape the indiscriminate shelling", he said.
"We have no way of knowing when this thing is going to stop, so we are preparing
for the worst and getting our families out," a local resident added.