MOGADISHU. June 5: At least three Pakistani UN troops and 13 Somalis were killed in clashes Saturday In Moga dtshu. UN sources said, reports AFP.

More than 100 Somalia were wounded by gunfire, hospital officials said. In what may have been the bloodiest single day in Somalia's war-devastated capital since US led multinational forces landed here on December 9 to protect famine relief supplies from marauding gunmen

Somali gunmen exchanged fire with UN troops In sporadic clashes marking the first major challenge to the UN since It took command of peacekeeping In Somalia from the United States on May 4. UN military spokesman Major David Stockwell said the violence, which engulfed several parts of southern Mogadishu, was believed to have been sparked by the UN Inspection of five designated weapons sites here Saturday.

Somali factions have stored arms at the sites since the foreign intervention.

Stockwell said Somalia’s main warlord Mohammed Farrah Aidid had been Informed in writing Friday that UN troops would make inventories of the weapons

The bloodshed followed acrimonious antl-UN and anti-American broadcasts on a radio station controlled by Aidid who has accused the United Nations of trying to Impose colonial style rule on Somalia, without a functioning government since Dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted 1n 1991.

Crowds used burning tyres to block roads to the airport and the former US embassy now used as a UN military base. The crowds dispersed by the end of the day, but roads remained littered with debris.

Stockwell addressing a news briefing, confirmed that there had been deaths and injuries among the UN forces, but was unable to specify the number or nationalities of the casualties. .