press tv

Heavy shelling exchanges between rebels and Somali government troops have left at least five people dead in Mogadishu.

In addition, medics say seven people were injured in the fighting.

Somali government officials have confirmed the shelling but did not provide any details.

Civilians have suffered greatly as a result of the clashes between the warring sides fighting for control of Mogadishu.

Human Rights Watch has accused the West of turning a blind eye to abuses by government troops and African Union soldiers in Somalia.

HRW has also accused the United States of sending mortars to the Somali government, even though no party has used the weapons in accordance with international law of war.

War-battered Mogadishu has been the scene of deadly civil strife since the collapse of the country's central government in 1991.

During the 2006-2009 Ethiopian invasion of Somalia, thousands of civilians died and many others fled to neighboring Kenya.