Fighting between insurgents and government forces continued for a second day in the Somali capital as medical officials say at least 43 people died in the clashes. The head of Mogadishu's ambulance service, Ali Muse, said Thursday he saw 20 bodies Wednesday after fighting broke out in the north of the city. Dr. Adbi Mohamed at Medina Hospital says three wounded people died overnight. No death toll is available for Thursday as Muse says it is too dangerous for ambulance crews to venture out. The clashes began when Islamists briefly overran two government positions. Residents say insurgents reached within a mile of the presidential palace before being beaten back with help from African Union peacekeepers. Meanwhile, a UN food agency said Thursday it will cooperate with any independent probe into its food operations in Somalia, after a report found that up to half the food aid intended for the nation's hungry people does not reach its destination. The report said food aid in Somalia is being diverted to corrupt contractors, radical Imilitants and local UN workers. It calls on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to authorize an independent investigation of the operations of the World Food Program in the country. “The integrity of our organization is paramount and we will be reviewing and investigating each and every issue raised by this report,” WFP executive director Josette Sheeran said in a statement. “WFP stands ready to offer full cooperation with any independent inquiry into its work in Somalia,” it said. The Rome-based agency also promised not to engage with transport contractors that the report alleges were involved in arms trading.
