Somalia Islamic militia guard Sahafi Hotel after it was captured from those of the counter terrorism alliance in Somalia capital Mogadishu, May 25, 2006

Mogadishu, May 27, 2006 – Fighters loyal to the Islamic Courts battled the fighters of a coalition of warlords on Friday with thousands fleeing Mogadishu to escape the violence.

At least 30 people were reported killed in the fighting.

A similar number of people were also believed to have been killed on Thursday when Islamic Courts militia pushed fighters of the anti-terrorist coalition out of the center of the city.

The deaths in the last 2 days have raised the toll to 200 including 140 people killed before the sides agreed on a truce 10 days ago.

Somalia Islamic militia (seen in this picture taken through a car window) patrol the streets of Somalia's capital Mogadishu, May 25, 2006

Meanwhile the Somaliland Times has learnt that most of the fighters deployed by Islamic Courts at the frontlines have come from areas outside Mogadishu. “The Islamic Courts have become increasingly dependent on fighters from as far as Somaliland and the Somali region in Ethiopia” sources close to the Islamic courts said.

Somalia Islamic militia celebrate as they pass outside Sahafi Hotel after it was captured from those of the counter terrorism alliance in Mogadishu, May 25, 2006

According to these sources, many indigenous fighters have been reluctant in the last 3 weeks to join the fighting while others withdrew from the frontline and surrounding theatre of military operations to take positions in the rear. The locals showed inferior discipline and combat skills as well as lesser commitment to fight for Jihad in comparison with external fighters, the sources added.

Source: Somaliland Times

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