The forces of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) on Wednesday controlled two more towns, 40 to 60 km away from the capital Mogadishu, the official Ethiopian news agency reported.

TFG Vice Defense Minister Salad Ali Jelle was quoted as saying the TFG forces controlled Bal'at town, some 40 km north of Mogadishu and Lego town, 60 km southwest of the capital.

Several soldiers of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) have been killed in the fights to control the two towns, Jelle told a press conference in Baidoa, the seat of the TFG.

The Ethiopian forces provided training and other support to the TFG in the fights to control the towns, he said.

Jelle said UIC fighters began fleeing from towns in disarray, adding that UIC fighters also engaged in clashes among themselves.

According to him, about 1,200 UIC fighters escaped by ship from Mogadishu to other countries.

He said a second ship was loading UIC fighters at Mogadishu port on Wednesday afternoon.

Jelle said UIC fighters in Kismayo port were fleeing to Mogadishu.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that the worst fighting in a decade in central and southern Somalia has caused hundreds of casualties and is forcing thousands to flee their homes.

Over the past few days, hospitals and other medical facilities in the area have admitted more than 800 wounded people, the Geneva-based humanitarian agency said in a statement.
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The agency has provided a number of medical facilities treating the injured with first-aid kits and surgical supplies from stocks pre-positioned in Somalia prior to the outbreak of the hostilities.

"The ICRC is extremely concerned about civilians caught up in the fighting, wounded people and people detained in connection with the fighting," the statement said.

The ICRC again called on all parties involved to spare civilians and to ensure that captured and wounded fighters are treated humanely and receive adequate medical attention, and that medical staff, hospitals and clinics are respected and protected.

"In cooperation with Somali Red Crescent Society staff, our people are working tirelessly to assist the civilian population and wounded persons throughout the area," said Pascal Hundt, head of the ICRC's Somalia delegation.

"We are urging all parties to ensure that medical staff and humanitarian workers can perform their tasks freely and safely," he added.

The ICRC has regular contacts with all parties to the conflict. It has received assurances that it can safely operate throughout Somalia and that its planes can land there.

In the coming days, ICRC aircraft will fly to several destinations in Somalia to deliver surgical and other medical supplies.

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2006)