Mogadishu — Residents in the neighborhoods near the presidential palace in Mogadishu began fleeing Wednesday following mortar and rocket exchanges by the presidential guards and unknown gunmen.

Women and children with some households could be seen traveling to near by provinces in the country on Wednesday.

Nearly 16 people were killed by the mortar and rockets fired by the government and Ethiopian troops with the insurgents yesterday.

Witnesses told Shabelle that 10 civilians were killed and nearly 30 were wounded by the explosions of rockets fired by Ethiopian and government forces based at the president's house after insurgents hit the presidential house with at least 7 mortar rounds.

At least six people were slain in the capital in different incidents yesterday.

The incidents occurred as Somali President Abdulahi Yusuf returned to the capital after nearly a month of absence.

Some of the fleeing families told Shabelle that their neighborhoods were hit by several rockets.

In the past, thousands of families who fled the capital because of the constant mortar assaults and insecurity in the capital decided to return after they faced ordeals and hardships.