Mojahedeen fighters shot down a cargo plane over Mogadishu on Friday during a third straight day of clashes with Ethiopian troops and puppet Somali government.
The Belarussian plane, with 11 people on board, was hit by a rocket shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu airport and crashed in the capital's northern Karan neighbourhood.
"Three rockets were fired at the plane and one of them hit the plane."
Local residents said the plane came down near a former flour mill. There were no immediate details of any casualties on the aircraft or on the ground.
Residents on Friday reported exchanges of fire at the defence ministry headquarters where Ethiopian troops are based.
KC
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