The latest flare-up between Islamic militia and a self-styled anti-terrorism alliance of warlords in Somalia's capital has killed at least 57 people, sources from both sides said this evening.
A top Islamist said that the Islamic militia would observe a ceasefire to end fighting in Mogadishu's run-down Siisii area that has also wounded 103, mostly civilians.
"Following requests from traditional elders and activists and growing concern from the general public we have decided to cease fighting," Shiekh Sharif Ahmed, chairman of the Mogadishu Islamic Courts, told reporters in the coastal city.
It was not immediately clear whether the warlord coalition would join in to stop fighting that has raged since Sunday.
The group held a closed-door meeting and their spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.
Many diplomats believe the clashes have been fueled by U.S. support for the warlords, who are unpopular among many citizens because their militias have victimized them or extorted money from them at checkpoints for years.
Witnesses earlier had said dozens had been killed.