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20 dead in Somalia
AFP
Last Updated IST

 Government forces backed by African Union troops retaliated to fend off the insurgents, whose offensive against the presidential compound came as President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was attending a conference in Turkey.

The Shebab fighters launched their main attack on the northern Shibis and Bondhere neighbourhoods of the seaside capital late Saturday. After a brief lull, the battle resumed at dawn on Sunday.

“The civilian toll could be higher,” said a security official.

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(Published 23 May 2010, 22:04 IST)