Mogadishu -- Gunmen have killed 682 civilians, including a foreign journalist, in executions over the past year in Somalia, a local rights group said yesterday.

The killings took place largely in the Somali capital. Some came during battles for control of the city, others were due to clan differences, a few were kidnappings and some were for unknown motives, according to the report by the Dr. Ismael Jumale Human Rights Centre.

Those killings included the June slaying of Swedish journalist Martin Adler as he filmed a protest in Mogadishu.The report said combatants killed 400 civilians and injured 1,500 during sporadic fighting since February between Islamic militiamen and secular warlords for the control of Mogadishu.

AP

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