MOGADISHU, Somalia, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Fighting broke out in portions of the Somali capital Thursday between militants and government troops, with reports of casualties, residents said.
Clashes between the Islamic militant group al-Shabaab and government forces in Mogadishu began shortly before dawn the northern districts of Karan and Huriwa, the BBC reported.
Residents in the areas of fighting said there were casualties, but the number wasn't known, Shabelle News said. African Union peacekeepers reportedly used tanks and artillery.
The fighting came the day after al-Shabaab attacked a military training camp run by African Union peacekeepers south of Mogadishu.
African Union peacekeepers also began an offensive Wednesday to protect famine relief efforts from attacks by al-Shabaab militants.
The African Union has about 9,000 troops in Mogadishu to prevent the internationally backed government from being overthrown. Kenya sent soldiers into Somalia in October after several cross-border kidnappings Kenyan officials blamed on al-Shabaab. The Kenyan parliament Wednesday agreed to integrate its troops in Somalia with the AU peacekeepers.
