Ethiopian troops have opened fire on civilians in the Medina District, southern Mogadishu, killing two and wounding more than 19 others.

The soldiers opened fire on civilians and broke doors of a mosque where people had taken shelter, beating them and taking more than 153 young boys to their bases, a press TV correspondent reported on Tuesday.

The violence erupted after the Somali Police Deputy Commander Abdullahi Hassan Barrise, accused Medina District residents of supporting insurgents.

He said in a statement that the 'residents don't want peace and stability in the capital' and that they 'work with insurgents instead of the police'.

The Ethiopian soldiers arrested the young boys and transferred them to Somali jails.

Sources said the parents of the detainees would be asked to pay $2000-3000 or their children would be transferred to Ethiopian jails as terrorists.

Hundreds of young students are missing since Ethiopia sent troops to Somalia to oust the government of the Islamic Courts Union.

SB/RE