At least 23 Somalis killed in latest clash

By Ibrahim Mohamed

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - At least 23 Somalis, mostly civilians, were killed and more than fifty wounded in Mogadishu on Saturday in the latest clash between government troops and insurgents, medics said.

"As of now, I can tell you that 23 died and more then fifty injuries were dropped at the hospital," Ali Muse, a paramedic told Reuters.

The attack brings the death toll to over 70 killed since Wednesday as government troops try to drive insurgents out of their Mogadishu bases.

African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) have warned hard-line Islamist insurgents who have been advancing on Somali government positions to back down or face retaliation.

"There is a limit, when they (insurgents) cross that line we shall engage them immediately," Major-General Francis Okello, AMISOM's commander, told Reuters.

"That is in our mandate, and we are carefully watching them."

The 4,300 Ugandan and Burundian troops have been confined to their bases and are limited to protecting key sites such as the presidential palace, airport and seaport.

African leaders meeting at an AU summit in the Libyan city of Sirte this week did not adopt a much anticipated proposed resolution to give AMISOM troops a mandate to do more then just defend themselves from rebel attacks.