At least 23 Somalis, mostly civilians, were killed and more than fifty wounded in Mogadishu today in the latest clash between government troops and insurgents, Reuters quoted medics as saying. "As of now, I can tell you that 23 died and more then fifty injuries were dropped at the hospital," Ali Muse, a paramedic told Reuters. The attack brings the death toll to over 70 killed since Wednesday as government troops try to drive insurgents out of their Mogadishu bases. African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) have warned hardline Islamist insurgents who have been advancing on Somali government positions to back down or face retaliation. "There is a limit, when they (insurgents) cross that line we shall engage them immediately," Major-General Francis Okello, AMISOM's commander, told Reuters. "That is in our mandate, and we are carefully watching them." The 4,300 Ugandan and Burundian troops have been confined to their bases and are limited to protecting key sites such as the presidential palace, airport and seaport. African leaders meeting at an AU summit in the Libyan city of Sirte this week did not adopt a much anticipated proposed resolution to give AMISOM troops a mandate to do more then just defend themselves from rebel attacks. Instead, the 53-member AU summit adopted a resolution condemning insurgent attacks in Somalia and backing the government. They also accused Eritrea of supporting the rebels and called for sanctions on the tiny country.
