Mogadishu — At least 13 have been injured after heavy fighting and shelling between the transitional government soldiers and Islamist forces started in parts Hodan district in the Somali capital Mogadishu, witnesses and officials told Shabelle radio on Sunday.

Reports say that the fighting started in parts of the in Hodan district few hours ago in the neighborhoods of the district in south of the capital as both the warring sides exchanged heavy gunfire in the battle injuring 13 civilians.

Reports say that the fighting started after the Islamist forces attacked Shaqalaha building, a military base for the African Union peacekeepers AMISOM troops and another bases for the transitional government soldiers in Taleh neighborhood in Hodan district in Mogadishu.

The emergency traffic officials told Shabelle radio that they took at least 13 injured civilians to the hospitals in the capital.

Residents in the areas where the clashes started have expressed concern about the heavy fighting between the transitional government soldiers backing by AMISOM troops and the Islamist forces as some of the people started to flee from their houses and search a concrete building to shelter and get safety for their lives.