Thailand and Cambodia exchanged artillery and gunfire for several hours Friday in a flare-up of a long-running border dispute, and their militaries said six soldiers were killed.

The fighting near the ancient temples of Ta Krabey and Ta Moan forced thousands of civilians on both sides to flee. Cambodia says artillery fell on villages and other areas as far as 13 miles (21 kilometers) inside its territory.

It was the first skirmish reported since four days of fighting in February, when eight soldiers and civilians were killed near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the east of Friday’s fighting.

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Heavy gun battle and artillery barrages between Somali transitional federal government forces backed by African Union troops and Al shabaab have occurred on Thursday in parts of the Somali capital Mogadishu, officials said.

Most of the battles jolted the district of Bondhere in northern Mogadishu where both heavy light weapons were used by the two warring sides.

Locals said the combat which was very fierce commenced after Somali forces joined by AMISOM peacekeepers waged coordinated attacks on Al shabaab military bases in northern Benadir region.

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Ethiopia has threatened to topple Eritrea’s regime should the international community fail to enforce sanctions placed on the country in 2009.

Addis Ababa claims Eritrea is trying to destabilise the Horn of African nation by backing rebels, while also supporting Islamist militants in Somalia.

The Ethiopian government usually says it is content to keep security tight at home to deter attacks.

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I reached Misrata today after an 18-hour journey by sea. As we approached the port, it appeared that we might have to turn back because the area near the port was coming under heavy rocket fire from Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi’s armed forces.

Several journalists were also on board our ship, including reporters from major international media from the US, the UK and France, as well as some freelancers. At last, through these efforts the wider world will come to learn more of what is and has been happening in this besieged port city, home to more than 300,000 people.

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African and Asian migrants have continued to flee the fighting in western Libya.

Nearly 1,200 people boarded a Greek-flagged ship in Misrata for the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

The aid agency said many of them needed medical treatment.

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Libyan rebels said a rocket attack on a residential district of Misrata killed 23 civilians on Thursday and warned of an impending government “massacre” if Nato does not intensify its attacks there.

A rebel spokesperson said troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi appeared to be deliberately targeting civilians in the western Libyan town. Most of the dead were reported to be women and children, along with three Egyptian migrant workers waiting to be evacuated.

“A massacre… will take place here if Nato does not intervene strongly,” a rebel spokesperson, who identified himself as Abdelsalam, told Reuters by telephone from Misrata.

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Somali politicians on Sunday announced the creation of a new state in the battle-scarred nation, a move condemned by Somalia’s fragile government, which said it could further fracture the already chaotic Horn of Africa country.
The creation of Azania was celebrated Sunday in a colorful ceremony in Kenya’s capital. Its creation brings the total number of new states to more than 10.

Kenya supports the new administration as it creates a buffer zone near its border with Somalia.

Azania President Mohamed Abdi Gandhi said his first duty is to retake his territory from al-Qaida-linked militant group al-Shabaab.
“Our aim of establishing this administration is to first liberate these regions,” he said. “We are not breaking away from Somalia.”

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