The streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, were empty Sunday, after 17 civilians were killed in fighting between Somali troops and Islamic insurgents.

The dead -- which included women, children and elderly victims -- were found beaten and with bullet wounds to their head and chest Saturday, CNN reported.

As many as 100,000 people have left the capital city in the last two weeks, fleeing violence between Ethiopian-backed government troops and insurgents who are trying to overthrow the weak regime, the United Nations said.

Residents blamed Ethiopian forces for the deaths, claiming they were in retaliation for the recent deaths of Ethiopian troops, CNN reported.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Friday 1.5 million Somalis are in need of humanitarian assistance.  // Copyright 2007 by United Press International



Publication date: 12 November 2007   

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