NAIROBI, May 20 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) has expressed concern over the fighting which has raged in the Somaliacapital Mogadishu for the past two weeks, urging for an end to hostilities, as calm returned to the bullet-scarred city but tension remains.

    In a statement received here Saturday, Chairperson of the Commission of the AU, Alpha Oumar Konare called on the Somali leaders to work together and exercise restraint after the latest bout of fighting in Mogadishu claimed more than 100 lives.

    "The chairperson of the Commission of the AU expresses deep concern at the prevailing situation in Mogadishu, particularly thefighting that has raged in the Somali capital, claiming so many civilian lives and leading to the destruction of property," the statement said.

    "The chairperson of the Commission calls on all parties engagedin the current hostilities to exercise restraint and refrain from any action that would further escalate the situation and endanger the efforts to promote lasting peace, security and reconciliation in Somalia, in line with the outcome of the reconciliation conference that took place in Kenya under the auspices of IGAD," it added.

    The sporadic gunfire which died down on Thursday pitted an alliance of warlords and the Islamist militia who have battled with heavy artillery in northern districts in the past two weeks.

    The battles have been fierce, with hundreds of people wounded, mostly women and children.

    Konare reiterated the pan-African body's full support to the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia in its efforts to restore lasting security, stability and reconciliation in the country. Enditem