Clashes between warlords kill 30 in Somalia

Some 17 persons were killed on Wednesday in al-Madina quarters, south of the Somali capital Makadishu, in fighting between the two warlords Mousa Soudi Yalho, and Omar Mahmoud Muhammad who had split from Yalho's group in 2001.

So far, number of killed persons within two days increased to 30, most of them are civilians and victims of random bombardment.

Medical sources said that among the victims is a two-year old child and her family, died after a mortar hit their house.

On the other hand, sources in Makadishu said that armed militias attacked the headquarters of the provisional government radio station, controlled it, took some of the equipment, and then fled away. The Somali government, however, made contacts with these militias and convince them to return back the stolen equipment. The attack came after announcing the transfer of the government radio headquarters to the headquarters of the former Socialist party in Makadishu.

Observers attribute reasons behind the recent fighting to the conflict over power between Yalho and Muhammad, when "Vinish" split from the Somalia Salvation Alliance (united Somali congress ) which was then led by Yalho, to form an independent militia in August, 2000, and sign a peace agreement with the national provisional government, Yalho had fought against.