Somalia War News Updates -- January 14, 2009

Islamist fighters in Mogadishu stadium chant Allahu Akbar (God is great), after the Ethiopian troops vacated the soccer stadium, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 which they have been occupying for the last 2 years. Meanwhile gunmen abducted an Egyptian teacher in Somalia's relatively peaceful northwestern breakaway republic, the Somaliland, where such kidnappings are rare, officials said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sheikh Nor)

Insurgents Attack Somali Presidential Palace -- Yahoo News/AP

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Islamic insurgents fired mortar rounds at Somalia's presidential palace and clashed with government forces Wednesday, leaving at least five civilians dead a day after Ethiopian troops handed over security duties.

Government soldiers retaliated after the attack on the palace and some of their mortar rounds hit the capital's largest market, Bakara, said Farah Mumin, a salesman at the market who said he saw three civilians killed and nine others wounded.

"The scene was very horrific and everyone ran from the market, some of them leaving their shops open," said Fadumo Sahal, another witness.

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More News On Somalia

Ethiopian Troops Begin Pulling Out of Somalia -- Voice of America
Ethiopia Says it Achieved Most of Its Objectives for Going into Somalia -- Voice Of America
UN urges timely presidential poll in Somalia -- China View
Ethiopia Starts Pullout From Somalia -- Wall Street Journal
Ethiopians Withdraw From Key Bases -- New York Times
Ethiopia Transfers Security Duty in Somalia -- Associated Press
US calls for decision on UN force in Somalia -- Yahoo News/AP
Somali Joy as Ethiopians Withdraw -- BBC News
13 killed in Somali capital -- International Herald Tribune
Rival Islamist Groups Battle in Somalia -- Voice Of America
Russian Navy Saves Dutch Ship from Somali Pirates -- Associated Press
Piracy: a $50 Million Business and Counting -- U.S. News And World Report
Pirates release two ships off East Africa -- CNN
Cargo ship escapes Somali pirates -- The Telegraph