Mogadishu, February 14: At least seven Somali civilians have been killed as a result of fresh clashes between African Union troops and al-Shabab fighters.
Clashes between African Union troops and al-Shabab fighters in the southern sector of Somalia's capital city, Mogadishu, broke out on Monday, a Media correspondent reported.
At least seven civilians have been killed and 30 others injured in the deadly crossfire, which has forced hundreds of residents to flee the area.
The Somali government and AU forces have been trying to drive the al-Shabab fighters out of Mogadishu.
Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, when warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
The Somali government has struggled for years to restore security, but efforts have not yet yielded results in the Horn of Africa nation.
Up to one million people have lost their lives following years of fighting between rival warlords and because of an inability to deal with famine and disease.
There are more than 1.4 million internally displaced people in Somalia. More than 300,000 of them have sought shelter in Mogadishu alone.
Most of the displaced live in poor and degrading conditions in makeshift sites in southern and central Somalia.
--------Agencies
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