afrol News, 24 September - A renewed fighting between Islamic insurgents and African Union peacekeepers has broken out in Somali capital Mogadishu, killing seven civilians, local reports said on Wednesday.

Attacks followed Monday attack that killed 30 people wounding several others when fierce fighting erupted in Mogadishu's main market.

Government forces backed by Ethiopian troops launched an offensive after insurgents bombed airport and attacked peacekeepers' two main bases. Tuesday's clashes happened in south of the city.

Somali government, with the help of Ethiopian troops, drove Islamists from the country's central and southern region in late 2006. Since then, militants have targeted and killed government officials and vowed to oust Ethiopians, who they regard as occupiers, from the country.

According to local media reports, no planes had landed since Tuesday after insurgent group al-Shabaab said it would destroy any aircraft that attempted to touch down at airport.

Hundreds of thousands have already fled and are living in makeshift camps outside Mogadishu or in Dadaab refugee complex in the east of neighbouring Kenya.

Mogadishu-based Elman Peace and Human Rights Organization this week said that a total of 9,474 civilians have died in the insurgency since early 2007.

Government and moderate opposition figures have signed a peace agreement, with technical details of the ceasefire still being hammered out, but al-Shabaab has rejected the deal, saying Ethiopian troops must leave before any peace can be negotiated.

Horn of Africa nation has been plagued by chaos and clan-based civil war since dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled in 1991.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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