BELETWEIN, Somalia July 25 (Garowe Online) - A second consecutive day of fighting raged in central Somalia Friday, as Islamist rebels sought to push out Ethiopian troops who had retaken control of a key town yesterday.

At least 12 people were killed, including three civilians who died when an artillery shell hit their home in the western side of Beletwein, the capital of Hiran region.

Ethiopian troops in Beletwein, Somalia/GO

"Today's battle was very intense…I saw 9 dead bodies, including three Ethiopian soldiers and four rebels," one witness told Garowe Online.

Islamic Courts spokesman Abdirahim Isse Addow told local media that the "fighting will continue until the enemy [Ethiopia] is expelled from the town [Beletwein]."

He claimed responsibility for the violence, telling reporters via a teleconference that "we [Islamist fighters] initiated the attack."

Beletwein clan elder Da'ar Hersi blamed Ethiopian armed forces for the violence, adding that he will share with the media when he receives a confirmed number of dead people.

Today's battle brings the death toll in two days of Beletwein fighting to at least 28 people, according to a Garowe Online tally.

Hundreds of families have fled Beletwein since yesterday, with witnesses reporting that the western part of town is "virtually empty" except for Ethiopian soldiers.

Source: Garowe Online