Sat Oct 1, 2011 1:59PM GMT
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Somali government forces on patrol in the capital city, Mogadishu. (File photo)
At least, 11 civilians have been killed and over 24 others injured in a new outburst of armed clashes south of the Somali capital city of Mogadishu, Press TV reports.
The civilians were caught in crossfire when heavy fighting erupted in southern Dharkenley district of Mogadishu between government forces and al-Shabab fighters, a Press TV correspondent reported.
Meanwhile, government sources announced on Saturday that they have killed 19 al-Shabab fighters.
Al-Shabab fighters, for their part, claimed to have killed 13 troops and seized their weapons.
Somalia has been without an effective central government since former dictator Siad Barre was overthrown by warlords in 1991.
Over the past two decades, up to one million people have been killed in Somalia in the fighting between rival factions and also due to famine and disease.
According to the World Food Program, drought and the famine have affected more than 11.8 million people in the Horn of Africa and created a triangle of hunger where the borders of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia meet.
Somalia has been the hardest-hit country by what is being described as the worst drought in the Horn of Africa in 60 years.
The United Nations has warned that more than thirteen children out of every 10,000 aged less than five die in the Somalia famine zone every day.
SS/JR
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