Somalia fighting kills at least 45: residents

Thu Aug 20, 2009 4:00pm GMT

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By Sahra Abdi

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Fighting between Somali insurgents and pro-government troops killed at least 45 people and wounded 30 others in separates battles in the south of the country on Thursday, witnesses said.

Western security agencies say Somalia, which has been torn by civil war for the past 18 years, has become a haven for militants plotting attacks in the Horn of Africa and beyond.

Militiamen supporting President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's fragile administration attacked al Shabaab insurgents in the Bula Burde in the southern Hiran region and the ensuing fight killed at least 33 and wounded 22 others.

"I have counted 20 dead bodies around the bridge where the two groups have been fighting since morning," local elder Farah Ali told Reuters by phone.

Another resident said 13 civilians were also killed.

In a separate battle, al Shabaab fighters seized back the southern Bulahawa town from pro-government militiamen after fighting that killed at least 12 people, witnesses said.

Earlier this week, militiamen backing Ahmed's government chased al Shabaab fighters out of Bulahawa without any fire.

On Thursday, al Shabaab returned with reinforcements. Continued...

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<p>Militants of al Shabaab display their weapons on the outskirts of Mogadishu, December 8, 2008. REUTERS/Feisal Omar</p>

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