MOGADISHU, Somalia, February 16, 2008 - Nearly 300 Somalis were killed and hundreds more wounded in clashes in the Somali capital last month, a local human rights group said on Saturday.

The Elman Human Rights group said 292 people had been killed and a further 325 wounded in Mogadishu in January. Civilians are frequently caught in the crossfire between government troops and their Ethiopian allies and Eritrean-backed Islamic insurgents. The Islamists briefly seized control of parts of southern Somalia and the capital but were beaten back with Ethiopian aid more than a year ago.

"The international community should initiate efforts to solve the forgotten Horn of Africa country. Those who are behind the human rights (abuses) should be brought to justice," said Sudan Ali Ahmed, the chairman of Elman.

Elman obtains its figures from medical institutions in a country where obtaining a reliable death toll is nearly impossible. But the true figure may be higher, as aid groups warn the violence means many injured cannot access treatment since ambulances are often unable to operate and private cars may be shelled or shot at.

The war-ravaged country has not had a functioning government since warlords turned on each other after they had ousted dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. It is deeply impoverished, riven between rival clans and awash with weapons.

Source: AP