( CNN ) -- At least 75 people have been killed in clashes in the Somali capital of Mogadishu since fighting broke out earlier this week between government forces and Al-Shabaab rebels , medical sources and a witness said Saturday . At least 30 people died on Wednesday , and another 35 died on Thursday , the city 's ambulance service said . Another five died of their wounds while hospitalized , according to Duniyo Ali Mohamed , medical director of Mogadishu 's Medina Hospital . A local journalist whose identity is not being disclosed for security reasons said he saw five other bodies in the capital . Mohamed said at least 170 people , including 21 children , were admitted to the hospital with injuries from the fighting between government forces and the rebels . Ninety-six remain hospitalized . Mohamed said two children lost their mothers ; one of the children was only 3 months old . A spokesman with the Mogadishu ambulance service told CNN that the service has picked up 148 wounded people since Wednesday , when the fighting began . He said he was particularly affected by the death of two children -- brothers who succumbed to their wounds when they arrived at the hospital . It was not immediately clear whether the two were included in the five dead from Medina Hospital . `` There is widespread hopelessness and despair in the city , '' said the ambulance spokesman , who is not being identified for security reason . He said the last remaining residents in the battle area are fleeing for their lives . Much of the fighting Thursday occurred north of Mogadishu , where a majority of militants allied with Al-Shabaab are believed to be in control , authorities said . The state defense minister claimed victory in Wednesday 's fighting and said Al-Shabaab suffered heavy loses . The United States considers Al-Shabaab , the al Qaeda proxy in the country , a terrorist organization . The group is waging a war against Somalia 's government in an effort to implement a stricter form of Islamic law , or sharia . Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991 , and fighting between the rebels and government troops has escalated the humanitarian crisis in the famine-ravaged country . Journalist Mohamed Amiin Adow and Ben Brumfield contributed to this report .
Government forces , Al-Shabaab rebels fighting in Mogadishu . At least 170 people , including 21 children , admitted to the hospital , medical director says . U.S. considers Al-Shabaab , the al Qaeda proxy in the country , a terrorist organization .