Islamist fighters in Somalia's capital have fired mortar bombs at the presidential palace and attacked African Union(AU) peacekeepers.
Fighting raged on Saturday night leaving three people dead near Bakara Market, and the AU called on the United Nations to impose sanctions on Eritrea, which Mogadishu accuses of backing the fighters.
At least 45 people had been killed in clashes a day earlier.
A senior Burundian officer told the Reuters news agency: "Opposition groups have attacked us with rocket-propelled grenades. They are still firing at us and we shall defend ourselves."
In a statement, the AU called for a no fly-zone along with a sea blockade off Somalia to stem the flow of weapons from Eritrea, which denies supporting the Islamists.
Eritrea has recalled its AU ambassador in retaliation.
Hizbul Islam and al-Shabab fighters, linked to al-Qaeda, have intensified their offensive against the new government of Sharif Ahmed, the Somali president.
Somalia's neighbours and Western governments fear the Horn of Africa nation, mired in civil war for 18 years, could become a haven for Islamist fighters unless the new government can defeat them.
A human rights group said a lull in the violence on Saturday saw many residents fleeing, joining 49,000 others who have left the city.
But heavy gunfire and explosions could still be heard as people fled.
The AU, which has some 4,300 peacekeepers from Burundi and Uganda in Mogadishu, is protecting key sites but its mandate limits the force to defending itself when attacked.
Islamist fighters took up arms in 2007 to drive out Ethiopian troops propping up a Western-backed government which failed to wield control over much of Somalia.
Since the start of 2007, fighting has killed at least 17,700 civilians and driven more than one million from their homes.
About three million Somalis survive on emergency food aid.
The Ethiopians withdrew at the start of 2009 leaving Somalia as they found it - in chaos and with a weak central government.
SOURCE: Aljazeera
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