MOGADISHU (Sunatimes) the indiscriminate shelling by the African Union peacekeepers into the civilian areas in Mogadishu is unacceptable and intolerable, the traditional elders of Hawiye tribe, the dominant people in the capital of Somalia said on Friday.

Ahmed Dirie Ali, the spokesman of Hawiye traditional council elders accused the African Union forces supporting the government of constantly targeting the civilians. “We can no longer endure the killing of the innocent people by the foreign troops. They came here to protect the government but not to massacre our people.” He said.

Ali said the AU peacekeepers repeatedly shell places where there is no fighting and urged them to stop bombing on the residential areas. “They have to confront at their rival in the frontline.” he added.

He did not mention what step his council could take against the African Union peacekeepers.

Ali made the remarks as some of the Mogadishu’s districts were badly hit for the last two days by artillery fires from the African Union military posts.

More than five thousand African Union troops are now remain in Somalia capital Mogadishu to defend the beleaguered transitional federal government against the Islamic militant rebel groups.