Government forces backed by African Union troops retaliated to fend off the insurgents, whose offensive against the presidential compound came as President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was attending a conference in Turkey.
The Shebab fighters launched their main attack on the northern Shibis and Bondhere neighbourhoods of the seaside capital late Saturday. After a brief lull, the battle resumed at dawn on Sunday.
“The civilian toll could be higher,” said a security official.
(Published 23 May 2010, 16:34 IST)
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