At least 8 people were killed and more than 17 others injured in Heavy fighting between Somali government forces and insurgents in south and northern Somali capital Mogadishu, witnesses said.

The clashes broke out late on Saturday, when the two sides exchanged heavy mortar fire, which killed at least 6 civilians in the districts of Bondhere, Karan, Yaqshid, Hodon and Abdiaziz.

According to eyewitnesses, heavily armed insurgents carried out attacks on government bases in the districts.

"The dead include two civilians who were killed in Hodon when armed insurgents attacked government forces," said an eyewitness.

The district was also the scene of grisly truck accident that claimed the lives of 5 people including the driver of the truck who was shot dead by forces dressed in government uniforms. Wounded civilians were admitted in various Mogadishu hospitals.

The restive seaside capital has been wrecked by deadly clashes between rebel fighters and government troops backed by AU troops in recent months.

Somali powerful militants are bent on overthrowing fragile UN-backed transition government, which controls little more than a few blocks of Mogadishu