At least 5 killed in fighting in Somalia’s capital; 20 dead over 3 day spike in violence

At least 5 killed in fighting in Somalia’s capital

MOGADISHU, Somalia — An emergency official says five more civilians have been killed in fighting in Somalia.

Ali Muse, the head of Mogadishu’s ambulance service, says that a spike in violence the last three days in Mogadishu has killed at least 20 civilians. More than 70 people have been wounded.

Muse said that two women, a boy and two men were killed Monday by stray bullets from fighting taking place between pro-government forces and Islamist militants.

Militants in the Horn of Africa nation have been trying to topple a U.N.-backed government for more than three years.

Somalia hasn’t had a functioning government in 19 years.