( CNN ) -- At least 15 people have been killed and more wounded after a weekend of heavy fighting in Somalia 's capital , journalists and a hospital spokeswoman said Monday . Artillery shelling from an area controlled by the government into an insurgent stronghold killed at least 15 and wounded 60 others Sunday in northeastern Mogadishu , journalists said after surveying the aftermath . More than 120 people have been admitted to a hospital with wounds related to fighting since Friday , said Duniyo Ali Mohamed , head of the medical department at Medina Hospital . The fighting comes after a militant Islamist group associated with al Qaeda attacked areas controlled by government troops and peacekeepers Friday , leaving 12 dead and at least 30 injured , witnesses said . Two of the 12 were members of al-Shabaab , according to Sheik Ali Mohamud Raghe , a spokesman for the militants . Al-Shabaab is an extremist group that the United States considers to be a terrorist organization . Somali government officials downplayed the offensive , calling it `` small and careless . '' Somalia has been mired in chaos since 1991 when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and sparked brutal clan infighting . The transitional government has struggled to establish authority amid challenges by militants .
Sixty were wounded after heavy fighting in Somalia 's capital , journalists say . Fighting continued after militants tied to al Qaeda attacked areas held by Somali troops , peacekeepers . Somali ##s downplay this , calling it ` ` small and careless ''