11 civilians die in gunbattle between Somali gov’t forces, militants in capital of Mogadishu

11 Somalis killed in gunbattle in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia — An emergency official in Somalia’s capital says 11 civilians have been killed in a gunbattle between Islamist militants and government forces backed by African Union peacekeepers.

Mogadishu ambulance service chief Ali Muse said Wednesday the death toll of Tuesday’s fighting included two children and four women. He said 45 others were also wounded, including seven women hurt after a mortar crashed into a jewelry section of the capital’s largest market, Bakara.

Shelling is a near-daily occurrence in Mogadishu. Islamic insurgents have been trying for three years to overthrow the fragile, U.N.-backed government, which is holed up in a small section of the capital.

International rights groups have decried the deadly impact on civilians.