Somalis massacred

(First Edition)

MOGADISHU (AP) - A Belgian army patrol found 15 massacred Somali militiamen in an area near the southern port of Kismayu being fought over by two warlords whose clashes have impeded peace talks, a UN official said.

The victims appeared to have belonged to a militia led by Mohamed Siad Hersi, known as Gen Morgan, whose forces have been clashing with a militia led by Omar Jess, an ally of Mohamed Farah Aideed, who helped to oust President Siad Barre. The peace talks were to have begun on Monday, but Gen Aideed blocked the meeting of a committee set up to oversee negotiations and insisted Gen Morgan first observe a truce agreed to 15 January.