Somalia fighting kills 1 000

MOGADISHU – Recent fighting that pitted Somali troops and their Ethiopian allies against Islamic insurgents killed more than 1 000 civilians and wounded 4 300 in this ruined capital, according to a committee assessing damage from the worst fighting in more than 15 years.

The estimate was a dramatic escalation in the death toll from four days of bloodshed that started in late March. An earlier estimate by a human rights group said more than 1 000 civilians were killed or wounded.Mogadishu’s dominant clan – the Hawiye – released its report late Monday, saying 1 086 civilians were killed and 4 344 wounded.The group said it gathered information from the radio, human rights groups and hospitals, but did not elaborate.Meanwhile, Hawiye elders cancelled planned talks with the Ethiopian military on Tuesday amid fears that another surge in fighting would break more than a week of relative calm.The Hawiye brokered a truce nine days ago with Ethiopian military leaders who are here protecting the Somali government from Islamic insurgents.But Somali and Ethiopian troops have been closing streets and digging trenches in recent days, raising concerns that more clashes could be imminent.”It is possible that the two warring sides could restart the fighting at any time,” Mogadishu resident Ahmed Ibrahim told The Associated Press.Two police officers were shot Tuesday, one fatally, witnesses said.It was not clear who shot the men.The UN refugee agency says some 124 000 people have fled Mogadishu since the beginning of February.The fighting started when Ethiopian troops used tanks and attack helicopters in an offensive to crush insurgents.”We have agreed to postpone the meeting until further notice,” Hussein Farah Siyad, spokesman of Hawiye team.He refused to comment further.The insurgents are linked to the Council of Islamic Courts, which was driven from power in December by Somali and Ethiopian soldiers, accompanied by US special forces.The US has accused the courts of having ties to al Qaeda.Nampa-AFPAn earlier estimate by a human rights group said more than 1 000 civilians were killed or wounded.Mogadishu’s dominant clan – the Hawiye – released its report late Monday, saying 1 086 civilians were killed and 4 344 wounded.The group said it gathered information from the radio, human rights groups and hospitals, but did not elaborate.Meanwhile, Hawiye elders cancelled planned talks with the Ethiopian military on Tuesday amid fears that another surge in fighting would break more than a week of relative calm.The Hawiye brokered a truce nine days ago with Ethiopian military leaders who are here protecting the Somali government from Islamic insurgents.But Somali and Ethiopian troops have been closing streets and digging trenches in recent days, raising concerns that more clashes could be imminent.”It is possible that the two warring sides could restart the fighting at any time,” Mogadishu resident Ahmed Ibrahim told The Associated Press.Two police officers were shot Tuesday, one fatally, witnesses said.It was not clear who shot the men.The UN refugee agency says some 124 000 people have fled Mogadishu since the beginning of February.The fighting started when Ethiopian troops used tanks and attack helicopters in an offensive to crush insurgents.”We have agreed to postpone the meeting until further notice,” Hussein Farah Siyad, spokesman of Hawiye team.He refused to comment further.The insurgents are linked to the Council of Islamic Courts, which was driven from power in December by Somali and Ethiopian soldiers, accompanied by US special forces.The US has accused the courts of having ties to al Qaeda.Nampa-AFP