Somali government and African Union peacekeepers and Islamist insurgents fighting

At the least 17 people had been killed and 46 other people were injured in fierce battles between Somali government forces backed by AU peacekeepers and Islamist insurgents over the control of key positions in Mogadishu.

The AU forces in conjunction using the Somali troops have made progress in fighting the Islamic militants. Based on officials, they now have control of over 60 percent of the Somali capital.

Following fierce battles with Islamist rebels Thursday, Somali government forces took over key positions around the northwestern portion of the main Mogadishu market.

The strategic marketplace is seen as an important hideout for the insurgents and a source of revenue to fund their attacks against the government.

The Somali government backed by AU peacekeepers has undertaken a huge offensive inside the capital along with in southern provinces controlled by radicals, who've skilled their worst losses to date.

The militants have vowed to continue their attacks, calling on civilians to remain away from the installations of the government and AU forces in Mogadishu.

An extremist group this week carried out numerous suicide attacks on AU troops in Mogadishu, killing two peacekeepers and wounding four others.

Uganda's President on Thursday renewed calls for a no-fly zone to be imposed over Somalia in a bid to curb the influx of arms in the war-torn country.

He said the air space there really should be used for aerial bombardments of the militants and re-supplying the AU troops.

He also stated that the troops, operating under difficult circumstances, need to be re-equipped with bullets, armored personnel carriers, and personal protection gear.

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