Five Somali government soldiers were wounded on Saturday in clashes between insurgent fighters and government forces on the outskirts of the southern town of Baidoa where Somali parliament is based, witnesses and hospital sources said.
The fighting erupted after heavily armed insurgent fighters attacked a base of the soldiers in a barrack on the eastern suburb of Baidoa, 250 km south west of the capital Mogadishu, witnesses in the area told Xinhua by phone.
Health officials at the main hospital in Baidoa said that five wounded government soldiers were admitted to the hospital for treatment, adding that they expect more to be brought in as the fighting was still continuing.
The sound of the intense gun fire between the two sides could be heard in Baidoa 7 km away from the battle area and which has remained the base of the Somali legislature since the transitional government relocated to the town back in 2006.
Reports from the southern town indicate that heavy reinforcement of Ethiopian and Somali government forces were send to the fighting which has been continuing for several hours since it started in early Saturday afternoon.
Baidoa has been relative stable compared to the restive capital Mogadishu but insurgent fighters have lately been carrying outs attacks against Somali government officials and forces as well as Ethiopian troops backing them.
Most of the Somali lawmakers, who have been based in the town, have reportedly left for Nairobi, the Kenyan capital for a conference, sponsored by the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) organization.
Source: Xinhua
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