MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Violence in Mogadishu killed at least 24 people Wednesday, and thousands of Somalis fled the capital fearing a government offensive against rebels. Hardline Islamist insurgents fired mortar shells at the Villa Somalia presidential palace, prompting African Union (AU) guards to respond with a deafening barrage of artillery. At least 16 people died in the bombardment, medical officials said ...

A Somali police officer says at least four security personnel and a civilian were killed when two groups of security officers fought over where to collect their salaries. Ali Nur Mohamed Hassan says the 15-minute shootout occurred Wednesday when dozens of military officers went to a police base ...

The European Union Naval Force says Somali pirates have freed a Panama-flagged cargo ship and its crew of 26 after a ransom was paid. Tuesday's statement from Cmdr. Anders Kallin said the MV Al Khaliq had 24 Indians and 2 sailors from Myanmar onboard. There were ...

ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) - Somalis fleeing war have long found refuge in Yemen, seen as a way station to Saudi Arabia, but fear of al Qaeda infiltration has cooled their welcome. "Because we are Somali refugees, we're suspicious," complained Ali Mohamed Othman, an unemployed man in the dusty Basateen slum in Yemen's southern port city of Aden. Yemeni authorities ...