MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – At least four people were wounded after fighting between members of Somalia’s police and military erupted in the capital on Tuesday morning, over attempts to break up peaceful anti-government protests.
Hundreds of protesters chanting anti-government slogans hit the streets of Somalia’s capital, attracting police efforts to quell their attempts on marching through major avenues of the city.
Thousands of security forces were deployed across the streets of Mogadishu early on Tuesday morning to prevent opposition demonstrations over delayed elections.
Photos circulated on social media show dozens of Somali army members marching with protesters through neighborhoods in the north of the Somali capital.
The army soldiers engaged members of special operations police unit in a gun battle after officers fired live rounds on protesters. At least four people have been wounded in the gunfight.
Somali federal government has not immediately commented on the incident and demonstrations ongoing in the capital.
It comes as dispute between some regional states and the federal government delayed elections, triggering opposition attempts to hold its own polls – a prospect Somalia’s international partners sternly warn could slide the war-torn nation back to a civil war.
There have been reports that the parliament headquarters have been closed with chairs and other equipment removed from the compound, but government officials who have spoken to Somaliguardian say the building will soon undergo renovation and the move is not related to fears stirred by opposition protests currently ongoing in Mogadishu.
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