20100720
reuters

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Fighting between al Shabaab rebels and government forces in the north of Somalia's capital has killed at least 52 civilians and wounded scores over the past week, a local rights group said on Tuesday.

The violence in Mogadishu has intensified since al Shabaab suicide bombers killed 73 people watching the World Cup final in Uganda's capital and the festering conflict is likely to be high on the agenda at an African Union summit in Kampala this week.

Troops from Uganda and Burundi make up the roughly 6,300 strong African Union force protecting key sites in Mogadishu and there have been calls for their mandate to be widened so they can go on the offensive against the al Qaeda-linked insurgents.

"It is ceaseless fighting and shelling between government forces and al Shabaab in the north of Mogadishu," Ali Yasin Gedi, vice chairman of the Somalia-based Elman rights group told Reuters on Tuesday.

"At least 52 people died and 129 others were injured in this week's fighting."

Al Shabaab and another Islamist militia have been fighting the Western-backed Somali government since the start of 2007. They control much of the capital but have failed so far to drive President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed from office.

The African Union force, known as AMISOM, has stepped in at key moments to protect the president's palace and Uganda said last week it was ready to send another 2,000 troops to help take the fight to the rebels.