10 Somalis die as Islamists, Govt clash

An ambulance worker says at least 10 people have been killed during clashes in Somalia's capital between Islamic insurgents and government forces.

An ambulance worker says at least 10 people have been killed during clashes in Somalia's capital between Islamic insurgents and government forces.

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The violence in neighborhoods that were previously government strongholds shows Islamist insurgents are making inroads into the few pockets of territory the U.N.-backed administration still controls.

Although the Islamist forces are divided, the U.S. State Department says at least one group has links to al-Qaida. Ambulance driver Ahmed Abdi says three of the dead were civilians and the rest were fighters.

The clashes Tuesday evening were the heaviest fighting in the capital since the government's Ethiopian allies withdrew earlier this month.