20091221
africanews

A heavy fighting between Somali government and Islamist rebels has killed more than 15 people, mostly civilians, and wounded 45 others sources said on Monday. The fighting erupted after Islamist insurgents fired several rounds of mortar shells into a police compound, which was hosting the 66th police anniversary ceremony on Sunday.
Somalia fighters_Mohammed Odowa
15 people, including women, children and a police officer were killed in the fighting. The dead people are mostly civilians in main market of Bakara, human rights group in Somalia said on Monday.

Government and Al-shabaab rebel could not immediately be reached for comment.
Ongoing fighting in Somalia has killed about 19,000 civilians since the beginning of 2007 and driven another 1.5 million from their homes, triggering one of the world's worst humanitarian emergencies.

Somalia has not had an effective government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.