Gunmen attacked Ethiopian troops in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Sunday, residents said, as Somali and U.S. officials vowed to work together to stabilise the chaotic state, according to Reuters. In the second day of violence in Mogadishu directed at Ethiopian troops, Somali gunmen opened fire on the forces backing the interim government. "Fierce fighting went on for 15 minutes. I could hear sounds of heavy machine guns rattling," Reuters quoted a resident, who lives nearby, as saying, adding that fighting was so fierce it lit up the area. A witness also told Reuters that a young girl was killed while another resident said he was wounded in the shoot out at the site where just days ago a hand grenade was thrown at Ethiopian soldiers. "The insurgents came with two vehicles and opened fire at government forces holding defences outside a compound where the Ethiopian soldiers are staying," a government source said according to Reuters. "The Ethiopians were inside. Fighting ensued. Heavy fire was exchanged, one anti-tank rocket was launched by the insurgents." A taxi driver in the area said three trucks carrying Ethiopian soldiers were attacked first: "It was a very heavy exchange. I was forced to lie down to avoid being hit," he said. He added that the gunmen fled, while another witness said the soldiers later drove away towards the seaport.
