In Somalia, government troops backed by African Union (AU) peacekeepers have killed 40 Islamist insurgents in the capital Mogadishu. Authorities say the rebels had captured an area near the presidential palace at the weekend, but that they've now been pushed back to their original positions. Three soldiers have died in the fierce clashes.

Somalia's government and a 4,300-strong AU force have been unable to take control of insurgent strongholds in Mogadishu and other parts of the country, despite international support and training.

Somalia's interim government has been pushing for a stronger mandate for the AU to allow its soldiers to help government forces fight opposition groups. As it stands now, they can only go into action if attacked.

Fighting in Somalia since Ethiopian troops ousted the Islamic Courts Union in late 2006 has killed at least 18,000 people and sent hundreds of thousands more fleeing from their homes.

Photo of displaced residents in Mogadishu by Abdurrahman Warsameh, ISN Security Watch (flickr)