- Title: SOMALIA: Civilians injured as battle for control of the capital intensifies
- Date: 3rd June 2009
- Summary: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (JUNE 2, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MEDINA HOSPITAL AN AMBULANCE CARRYING WOUNDED CIVILIANS DRIVING TOWARDS HOSPITAL VARIOUS OF HOSPITAL STAFF CARRYING WOUNDED INTO THE HOSPITAL PILE BLOOD STAINED CLOTHES ON THE GROUND VARIOUS OF MEDICAL STAFF OPERATING ON AN INJURED CIVILIAN VARIOUS OF INJURED CIVILIANS IN HOSPITAL (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) INJURED
- Embargoed: 18th June 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Somalia
- Country: Somalia
- Topics: War / Fighting
- Reuters ID: LVA9F2VL8JILQX70F7X2I2PLYZP2
- Story Text: Somali government forces drove Islamist insurgents from two districts of the capital on Tuesday (June 2) in another day of heavy fighting that killed dozens of people and injured civilians.
Hardline rebels with links to al Qaeda stepped up attacks in Mogadishu in early May and government forces have been battling to recapture lost ground. Fighting has killed more than 200 people since then and nearly 70,000 residents have fled.
The battle for Mogadishu is the stiffest test yet for new President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, a former Islamist rebel who joined a U.N.-brokered peace process last year and was elected by parliament in January.
Hospitals in the capital were filled by civilians who were caught in between the fighting parties, leaving scores dead and injured. Hospital wards were full to capacity as more injured were brought in by ambulances.
"My health situation is getting better after getting treated here and am hoping to go home in the next few days," said Ahmed Yusuf, a civilian injured in the fighting.
Doctors in Keysaney hospital in the capital were fully stretched by the increasing numbers of casualties.
"We have 138 patients in our hospital who were wounded during the fighting and their situation is getting better. Doctors in our hospital are very busy treating the wounded civilians in the wards," Keysaney hospital administrator Ali Bile said.
Advances by the insurgent group al Shabaab and allies have been worrying Western powers and neighbours as they fear the Islamist rebels may use Somalia as a base to destabilise the region's two biggest economies, Kenya and Ethiopia.
The gains by pro-government forces came after a second day of heavy battles in the capital and residents emerged from their homes on Tuesday (june 02) to survey the damage.
Since the new administration came to power this year, it has struggled to stamp its control on more than a few districts of the capital and some central regions. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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