MOGADISHU, Somalia (AFP)–Embattled Somalia President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed vowed on Monday to defend his fledgling government, which has been rocked by renewed fighting between government troops and hardline Islamists.

“This is unfortunate fighting, waged by elements whose only skill is war, but the decision of my government is quite clear … it will defend the integrity of Somalia and its governance,” Ahmed told reporters.

Fighting in the capital Mogadishu erupted on Thursday, with both sides using heavy machine guns, artillery and anti-aircraft weapons. It escalated at the weekend, with a bloody attack on a mosque on Sunday afternoon.

The clashes have left nearly 40 people dead and some 200 wounded, most of them civilians.

There were no reports of casualties from Monday’s clashes.

Anti-government forces have advanced into several areas of the capital, particularly in the south where heavily-armed Shabab militants were patrolling Monday.

Ahmed said the rebels wanted to weaken his regime “but that will never happen and we ask our people to support us in this fight”.

Hardliners have rejected talks with Ahmed’s government, even after it endorsed plans to introduce Islamic law, a key demand of the opposition militants.

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