New Delhi: At least 24 people have been killed in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu in clashes between insurgents and Ethiopian troops supporting the fragile Somali government.
Islamic insurgents rained down mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and machine-gun fire on government-allied troops, a day after the government began an offensive to quash the growing insurgency, news agency Associated Press reported.
Ethiopian tanks and helicopters attacked rebel positions across Mogadishu, breaking a ceasefire which has been in place since last weekend.
Hundreds of soldiers from neighboring Ethiopia, who are here to protect the fragile Somali government, were under withering attack early on Friday.
Over 57,000 people have fled Mogadishu to escape the fighting since February, including 12,000 in the last week
Last week, a cargo plane carrying equipment for African Union peacekeepers here was shot down by a missile during takeoff, killing the 11-person crew.
The United States has accused the Islamic group of having ties to al-Qaeda.
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