AU peacekeepers patrol Mogadishu

The AU peacekeepers warn of a looming humanitarian crisis

African Union peacekeepers are patrolling Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, for the first time since they arrived in March.

Uganda has sent 1,600 peacekeepers who are meant to replace Ethiopian soldiers invited in by the interim government to suppress Islamist forces opposing it.

The AU troops were mostly confined to the airport while the city saw some of the fiercest fighting in 15 years.

More than 1,000 people were killed and thousands more have fled the city.

'Humanitarian crisis'

"As we move forward, we will be doing active patrolling, protecting government institutions and preparing an environment for a humanitarian delivery," said the spokesman for the AU mission, Capt Paddy Ankunda.

The commander of the African Union peacekeepers, Gen Edward Wamala said there was a degree of security in Mogadishu now.

But he said the fighting had left a looming humanitarian crisis, with thousands of people in need of food and water.

Many houses in Mogadishu have been destroyed or looted

Local human rights groups say at least 1,300 people have been killed over the past two months.

Islamist fighters and clan militias battled government forces backed by Ethiopian troops for control of Mogadishu starting in February.

The increasingly violent clashes saw machine guns, mortars and artillery fired indiscriminately in residential areas.

The government declared victory on Saturday and some residents have begun returning to the city.

The Union of Islamic Courts took control of Mogadishu last June.

They in turn were ousted last December by government troops backed up by the Ethiopians but started mounting counter-attacks soon after.

The Ethiopians want to withdraw to be replaced by AU peacekeepers but only 1,600 of the planned 8,000 have arrived.

Somalia has not had an effective national government for 16 years.