A fresh fighting has killed 12 people and wounded dozens more in the Somalia capital Mogadishu on Friday between government troops and militants loyal to Al-Shabaab Islamist group – as the rivals claimed victory over the latest battle.

The fighting started when heavily armed Al-Shabaab militants attacked a check-point by the government troops in Dharkenley district, southwest of Mogadishu where they faced a strong resistance.

According to the media sources, some of the dead were civilians who hit by the exchanged fires.

“I was awaked by the load sounds of the gun and artillery fires, and then I realized that fighting began around us.” said Ali Muhumad, a local resident in the area.

Moalim Abdulle Ali, a district councilor of Dharkenley showed reporters bodies of three men dressed in military uniform whom he said were members of Al-Shabaab and killed in the battle.

Al-Shabaab military officials claimed on their side that they captured the district and killed a number of government soldiers but government officials denied that.

The Islamic rebels, which control much of southern Somalia, have been trying to overthrown the western backed Somali government since it was formed in Djibouti in 2008.

Source: Sunatimes