Civilians flee Mogadishu as Somali troops and opposition-allied militias trade fire

Violence flares before protests on Thursday over president’s decision to remain in office after his term expired

Government troops and militias allied with the opposition have exchanged fire in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, damaging property and forcing some civilians to flee.

The violence flared up ahead of planned protests on Thursday over president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to remain in office after his term expired in May. In March, parliament backed constitutional changes that could allow Mohamud to extend his term by a year and push back an election.