MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Gun fights between Somali government troops and Islamist rebels in the capital Mogadishu has killed 20 people, including more than a dozen civilians, officials said on Saturday.
The clashes took place after heavily-armed, al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab insurgents attacked a government military base in Dharkenley district, south of the capital on Friday. The fighting was over by the end of the day.
"We pushed them back and killed 13 of al Shabaab's fighters. We are still at our bases," Abdiazis Ali, a senior Somali military officer, told Reuters.
"Four of our troops died and there are also a few injuries".
Al Shabaab, seen by Washington as al Qaeda's proxy in the Horn of Africa region and which controls much of the country and most of the capital, confirmed the offensive.
The group gave no details of any toll but said the attack was part of their plan to seize the rest of Mogadishu.
