Mogadishu, 27/02/2003 - (SA) - At least 12 people have been killed and 18 wounded in two days of clashes in the Medina enclave of the Somali capital on Wednesday, residents said on Thursday.
"Three civilians and two gunmen were killed and seven other people wounded on Wednesday, while seven more were killed and 11 wounded after violence resumed on Thursday," elders said.
The fighting, said to be very heavy by local residents, involves loyalist gunmen of warlord Musa Sudi Yalahow and rival warlord Omar Mohamud Mohamed "Finish", both of whom control pockets in the divided enclave.
"The fighting was started by supporters of Yalahow and he will take responsibility for the violence," Finish's top militia commander Ahmed Hassan Addow said.
He said that his men were only defending their positions in Medina from "aggression" by Yalahow's forces.
But Yalahow immediately denied the allegations.
"For me, the chapter of violence is totally over. I don't believe in violence, as most Somalis are fed up with war. I will use all my powers to stop the renewed violence with the help of elders," Yalahow said.
"This is undesirable violence triggered by freelancers acting on their own," Yalahow said, and appealed to militia on both sides to stop the fighting unconditionally and immediately.
Somalia has not had a recognized central government since dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was deposed in January 1991 and has since been ruled by clan warlords.
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