Witnesses said Wednesday that three Ethiopian soldiers and three insurgent were killed as both sides traded heavy machinegun fire, grenades and artillery barrages in the Suqaholaha neighborhood.

They also said that a man and a woman were shot dead by stray bullets when the exchange of fire erupted.

Over the past year, Mogadishu has been rocked by almost daily violence and the guerrilla fighting has killed hundreds of civilians and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes.