17/05/08 (B448) Press TV – De violents combats causent la mort de 50 personnes en Somalie, dont 31 miliciens et 12 éthiopiens – Heavy Somali clashes leave 50 dead (En Anglais – Info lecteur)

More than 50 people, including civilians, have reportedly been killed and dozens injured in heavy clashes across war-torn Somalia.

Armed rebels carrying bazookas attacked a military base in north Mogadishu near the Arafat Hospital. At least 12 Ethiopian soldiers were killed and more than 25 were injured.

At least eight civilians were also killed during the clashes and most of the residents are fleeing the area, said a Press TV correspondent in Mogadishu.

Meanwhile, fighters from the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) took control of Jilib town, 365 kilometers south of Mogadishu, after heavy clashes with militiamen loyal to the Somali government, a senior ICU leader told our correspondent.

At least 31 militiamen were killed in clashes.

Somalia has been without a central government since President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991.