Death toll hits 54 from fighting in Somali capital

The death toll from two days of fighting in Somalia's capital between government forces and al Shabaab rebels has risen to 54, ambulance services said on Thursday as clashes subsided with both sides claiming successes.

The government urged residents to vacate the areas where fighting had taken place as it planned to take on the rebels again, but said it had not yet started a long-awaited offensive to dislodge the insurgents from Mogadishu once and for all. (Reuters)