Clashes in Mogadishu

Mogadishu is scarred by nearly 10 years of fighting

There has been an outbreak of heavy fighting in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

At least 10 people are reported to have been killed in clashes between rival clans in the city centre at dawn.

Militiamen loyal to the warlord Hussein Mohamed Aideed attacked a neighbourhood called Bermuda with heavy artillery, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons.

The area is reported to be a stronghold of Mr Aidid's rival, Ali Mahdi Mohamed.

Correspondents say it was a revenge attack for the killing last week of Mr Aideed's men including his driver.

Setback

The latest fighting is seen as a major setback to efforts by the new interim president Abdulkassim Salat Hassan to restore normality in the capital.

President Abdulkassim Salat Hassan hopes to restore peace

Mr Hassan was elected at the end of August by a transitional parliament meeting in exile in neighbouring Djibouti.

And when he visited Mogadishu shortly afterwards, he told crowds that the time of lawlessness and anarchy was over.

The new parliament and president have the support of the business community and Islamic courts within the country.

But his attempts to impose a central authority on Somalia are opposed by several of the influential faction leaders.