At least three civilians were killed and five others were wounded Friday in fighting between Islamist insurgents and the Burundian contingent from African Union peace keepers based in Jalle Siad Academy compound in Mogadishu.
Residents said insurgents attacked the Burundian base with mortars and assault rifles and the fighting lasted about 30 minuets.
No group has claimed the responsibility of the fighting, but al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam Islamist groups vowed to keep on fighting against the African Union troops and the new government led by president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed.
The fighting comes only a day after thousands of Somalis rallied for peace. Mostly the city's civilians bore the brunt of the violence.
The AU's 3,400-force of Burundian and Ugandan peacekeepers - deployed since 2007 - are now the only foreign troops in the Somali capital.
Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991.
Some three million people - half the population - need food aid after years of fighting.
By Mareeg English editor
amsomalia@mareeg.com
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