By Aweys Osman Yusuf

Mogadishu, Somalila, January 20, 2007 - Gunfire exchanges have taken place in north of the capital on Saturday between Ethiopian troops and unknown gunmen.

Witnesses told Shabelle that number of Ethiopian troops backed by tanks were passing by the main road of north of the capital when they were attacked by the gunmen. The skirmishes lasted half an hour.

The exact number of casualties is not yet clear.

Hospital sources also indicated that no wounded people were brought to the hospital either last night or today.

Residents in north Mogadishu said they could hear the deafening sounds of artillery fire that was used during today's fight.

The African Union decided last night in a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that about nine battalions of African peacekeepers should be deployed in Somalia as Ethiopian government said it would hesitate withdrawing its military troops from Somalia in the coming days.

Source: Shabelle Media Network