(13 May 2009) STORYLINE:
Pro-government militias and Islamic insurgents battled in Somalia's capital on Wednesday for a fourth day, as an insurgent leader vowed his forces would not relent until the government is overthrown.
Since the weekend, both sides have pounded the northern part of the capital, Mogadishu, with mortars and gunfire in the worst violence in recent weeks.
A witness said said he saw two bodies Wednesday near the Suq Bad market, one of the areas where fighting is taking place.
Mohamed Haji, a businessmen, also said he saw six wounded people.
Fadumo Ali of Medina Hospital said six people wounded in the battles in northern Mogadishu had been brought in for treatment.
A local human rights organisation said 113 civilians were killed between Saturday and Monday.
On Tuesday there was a lull in the fighting.
The Elman Human Rights Organisation also said 27,200 people had fled their homes as between Saturday and Tuesday.
The renewed violence in the Horn of Africa nation pits pro-government fighters against those allied to al-Shabab, an insurgent group seeking to overthrow the Western-backed government and establish an Islamic state.
Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991, when warlords overthrew longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre before turning on one another.
Somalia's transitional government was formed in 2004, but has failed to assert control over the country.
The insurgents have been trying to topple the government since late 2006, and the lawlessness has allowed piracy to flourish off Somalia's coast.
Al-Shabab controls much of southern Somalia.
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