Little relief in Ramadan for war-weary Mogadishu

MOGADISHU-Gun battles in Mogadishu killed at least six people early on Friday and residents said they feared Ramadan would bring no let up in a months-long insurgency that has battered the Somali capital.Four civilians and two government soldiers died in the overnight clashes between the security forces and Islamist-led guerrillas, which came hours after the interim government lifted a dusk-to-dawn curfew that had been in place since June.Witnesses said the dead were carted away on wheelbarrows.Sitting outside his home in a city backstreet, Osman Muhammed Mudey had little hope of a lull in the violence."I don't think the groups will stop fighting during Ramadan, because those who do not respect human life will not respect Ramadan," the 38-year-old father of four said with a shrug.Walking to a nearby market to buy supplies for the big evening meal that follows daylight fasting, Kasho Ahmed told Reuters residents were praying to Allah to end the bloodshed."In Islam, it is totally wrong to fight during the holy month," she said, clutching the hand of her five-year-old son.Ramadan began on Thursday, a day after Somali opposition figures formed a new alliance in Eritrea that vowed to wage war on Ethiopian troops supporting Somalia's government.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL1410314620070914

As in the days of Noah...