New York, May 1, 2007 – Fighting in the Somali capital Mogadishu has inflicted high civilian casualties, and the death toll may increase in coming days from intensified and indiscriminate shelling and bombing, a group of human rights rapporteurs said Tuesday.

The 12 rapporteurs, based in Geneva, signed a joint statement saying that within the last week, 'severe hostilities' erupted between Ethiopian-backed Somali forces and insurgent groups in Mogadishu, killing up to 400 people and injuring over 700.

They said 60 per cent of the dead were the elderly, women and children.

'This is the second major escalation in fighting in Mogadishu in the past month alone and we are very concerned that civilian fatalities and casualties will increase in coming days,' they said.

Fighting in Mogadishu since February has driven close to 400,000 people, or one-third of the city's population, to flee, joining a growing number of people internally displaced in Somalia estimated at 400,000.

The rapporteurs said they were informed of indiscriminate artillery fire, shelling and car bombings in civilian areas in Mogadishu. They said schools and hospitals were bombed and civilians were prevented from receiving humanitarian assistance.

Ethiopia in February threw its support to the exiled transitional government in Somalia to topple the Moslem-led group that seized power in Mogadishu. The transitional government has regained control of the capital, but fighting has continued.

The UN Security Council in New York condemned the continued fighting on Monday and it urged the Transitional Federal Institution to show 'leadership and commitment' to reach out to all Somali groups and intensify talks with clans that traditionally dominate politics in Mogadishu.

The council said the transitional government should convene as soon as possible the National Reconciliation Congress that would be 'truly representative' of the Somali society in order to settle internal differences.

'The Security Council condemns those who threaten the early convening of the National Reconciliation Congress,' the council said.

It asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the African Union and the Inter-government Authority on Development (IGAD) to do whatever possible to arrange a ceasefire and political dialogue, especially in Mogadishu. IGAD is promoting political dialogue in countries in conflict in Africa.

Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur