Fighting raged on between Islamic militiamen and secular fighters in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu. At least 96 people have been killed with almost 200 others wounded. Many of the casualties reported are civilians who are simply caught in the crossfire.
The two fighting factions, the Islamic Court Union and the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter Terrorism, continue to fight each other with neither side gaining a clear advantage. Thus far, the fighting has been centered on the northern neighborhood of Sii-Sii although reports have come in that the violence is spreading to other parts of the city.
'Despite the Islamic courts' unilateral cease-fire, there are no traces of an end to the hostilities,' Abdi Kariin, a foreign exchange dealer told CNN.
U.N. Secretary General's Special Representative for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, issued a statement Wednesday appealing for 'leaders on both sides to step back from the brink and reconsider the damage they are inflicting on the population.'
'Whatever the allegiances, the intermittent conflict between heavily armed camps has resulted in indiscriminate loss of life and has created fear and chaos for those civilians trapped in the crossfire,' said Fall. 'The indiscriminate use of heavy machine guns, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and artillery in and between urban areas is unacceptable.'
Thus far, both sides are blaming the other for the continuing violence. There is no sign that the fighting will end any time soon.
