New outbreaks of fighting in Somalia have left more than two dozen people dead. The violence comes as international relief agencies stop all activities in southern Somalia following last week's murder of an aid worker. International aid agencies say they won't be going back to southern Somalia until they can be assured of better security for aid workers. The relief halt follows last week's killings by bandits of Ayub Yarrow, a doctor with the United Nations Children's Fund. It was the latest in a string of incidents where aid workers have been killed by Somali gunmen.
Many observers say the security situation in the south does appear to be worsening.
On Monday, fighting broke out in the town of Kismayu when members of two rival subclans argued over the ownership of a gun- mounted truck. The dispute quickly became a battle. Caught in the crossfire were the town's residents. Casualty estimates range from 15 to 30 dead, most of them civilians. About 50 people were wounded.