AU soldiers help Somali forces as fighting rages

MOGADISHU – African Union peacekeepers in the Somali capital have directly intervened for the first time to support government forces fighting Islamist insurgents, a spokesman said. A witness reported at least eight people were killed on the second day of fighting.

AU spokesman, Bahoku Barigye, said peacekeepers were drawn into yesterday’s fighting by a direct threat to their positions as the insurgents advanced into north Mogadishu.’Our troops were in an imminent danger, so we had to take some limited action,’ he said. ‘That does not mean we are fully involved in the combat.’The 4 300 beleaguered peacekeepers defend themselves when attacked but generally try to avoid being drawn into the conflict to preserve their neutrality. Their mandate includes the defence of the capital’s port, airport and key government buildings.Mogadishu’s deputy mayor, Abdifitah Shawey, said the AU was forced to intervene after the insurgents fought their way to just over half a kilometre from the presidential palace. ‘We lost three soldiers in today’s battle and the other side left more dead bodies behind. I do not know their exact number,’ said Shawey. ‘Our troops are still pursuing them in the streets and through the residential areas.’Government commander Salad Ali Jelleh said there had been fierce fighting as the insurgents advanced into the city in the early hours but the Islamists melted away into the city streets when government and AU forces counterattacked. – Nampa-AP