NAIROBI, April 2 (Xinhua) -- About 47,000 more civilians have fled Mogadishu in the past ten days to escape the escalating fighting in the Somali capital between the Somali government troops and insurgents, the UN refugee agency said on Monday.

    In a statement issued in Nairobi , the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said a total of 96,000 people have so far left their homes during February and March with the figure expected to rise as thousands of other people were trying to leave.

    "As of today, a total of 56,000 people have fled, which must be added to the 40,000 who left the city in February," said the UNHCR.

    It said most of those escaping the deadly violence which aid agencies say is the worst in 15 years, have headed to the neighboring region of Lower Shabelle, where nearly 29,000civilians have arrived in March, with over 17,000 settling around Afgooye and over 10,000 in the district of Marka, two cities in the west and southwest of Mogadishu.

    There has been a steady exodus from the city since the beginning of February, when armed groups clashed with forces of the transitional government which seized the capital in December from the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts.

    The UNHCR said the outflow intensified last week and the interim government told civilians to leave certain areas of the city apparently so that it could step up its offensive against the insurgents.

    Hospitals have reported scores of people killed and the UN said many set off for long and dangerous journeys through areas controlled by rival clans rather than staying in the Mogadishu .

    Despite the fighting, Somalia 's interim government says it still plans to go ahead with a reconciliation meeting of elders, politicians and former warlords in two weeks' time.