Mogadishu — At least 3 people have died and nine others have been hurt as Ethiopian forces backing the Somali government shelled Mogadishu's main market on monday, witnesses say.

The attack was launched after armed islamist fighters attacked on Ethiopian troops near Alikamin area in Mogadishu in particular at a street the new mayor has stated that I could be used by the commuters, but the area is still in attendance by Ethiopian troops.

Most of the injured people were civilians were making shopping in the main Bakara market where the mortars landed on business sites.

Ethiopian troops intervened in Somalia in December 2006 to help government forces oust an Islamist militia.

Since then Mogadishu, the capital, has been the scene of battles with government and Ethiopian troops taking on insurgents.