MOGADISHU , Somalia ( CNN ) -- Fresh fighting between Ethiopian-backed government forces and Islamic insurgents in Somalia 's capital city of Mogadishu reportedly killed at least 10 people Sunday , eyewitnesses said . A man walks past the rubble of a building destroyed in Sunday 's fighting . The two sides pounded each other with artillery , sending children scurrying and bringing business at the city 's main market to a standstill . `` The fighting is so heavy and a barrage of mortar bombs is hitting many parts in Bakara market , killing people and causing heavy damages of buildings `` said Ali Abdulkadir , a cloth trader at the city 's main Bakara Market . Hawo Abdi Oman , another eyewitness at the market , said a shell landed in an area crowded with people , killing nine civilians . Among the dead , she said , were two children and four women . The market , a rebel stronghold , has been the site of numerous clashes since early last year . In a nearby neighborhood , Geed Jaceyl , a shell landed on a house , crushing it . A woman who was inside was killed , witnesses said . A second shell landed near a religious school , sending children running for cover . No one was injured in that incident . The presence of Ethiopian troops trying to help defend a transitional government 's hold on Mogadishu has united Islamic militant groups seeking to gain control of the city . In 2006 , the Islamic Courts Union -- a militia group -- ousted Somalia 's transitional government from power . But the ICU was deposed in December of that year following Ethiopia 's military invasion . Since then , insurgent groups have been trying to destabilize the government . Somalia 's current transitional government is trying to maintain control of the capital , with the help of the better-equipped Ethiopian forces . The violence has displaced more than 40,000 civilians who have taken shelter in dozens of makeshift settlements west of Mogadishu . Somalia has been mired in chaos since 1991 , when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and sparked brutal clan infighting . Sunday 's fighting came a day after suspected insurgents killed a local reporter , who freelanced for the BBC and Reuters news agency . The national union of journalists in Somalia called the death of Nasteh Dahir Farah a `` targeted assassination . '' He was the 10th reporter killed in the war-torn nation since last year . Farah , 36 , was gunned down on his way home from work in the southern city of Kismayu , according to the National Union of Somali Journalists . -- Journalist Mohamed Amiin Adow contributed to this report .
Fighting between government forces and insurgents in Mogadishu kills at least 10 . The fighting has displaced more than 100,000 people since the start of last year. Women and children among the dead , according to witnesses .