In Somalia, at least fifteen people were killed and more than sixty wounded Tuesday in escalating clashes between Islamist fighters and African Union troops. A Mogadishu resident lost his wife and child in the violence.

Mogadishu resident: “They were hit by a mortar that killed them. My other three children were wounded and taken to hospital. The dead woman is my wife, who was recovering after giving birth.”

More than 16,000 civilians have been killed and one million displaced since US-backed Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia to oust Islamist leaders two years ago. The ongoing unrest has prompted calls for changes to US policy in the region. In a letter last week, Democratic Senator Russ Feingold urged President Obama to make what he called “a public, unequivocal statement” announcing a “clear break” from Bush administration policy in Somalia.