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Two Ethiopian helicopters fired missiles on southern Mogadishu Thursday after heavy fighting with insurgents in which at least 10 people were killed, an AFP correspondent said.
The Ethiopians fired the missiles near their base at the former Somali defence ministry headquarters, where many recent insurgent attacks have taken place.
Ethiopian tanks deployed into southern neighbourhoods late Wednesday before launching the Thursday offensive.
“This morning the Ethiopians launched an operation in the southern part of the city,” said an officer from African Union peacekeeping troops also deployed in Mogadishu, but not involved in the offensive.
“For us, our main concern is civilian casualties,” he said, asking not to be named.
Heavy fighting broke out early Thursday between Ethiopian troops and insurgents, killing at least 10 civilians and smashing a shaky six-day old ceasefire.
Thursday's fighting crushed hopes that the truce with the Hawiye clan, which has largely controlled the Somali capital since 1991, could be maintained.
At least 10 civilians were killed in crossfire in southern neighbourhoods of Mogadishu, witnesses and an AFP correspondent said.
Last Friday's ceasefire deal came after some of the deadliest fighting since the government and its Ethiopian allies drove out powerful Islamists from southern and central Somalia three months ago.
