Mr. Siad Barre, who is more than 80 years old, fled Mogadishu in January and remains in his home village in the southwest.

Special Forces units are conducting a hunt for Qaeda operatives who have fled Mogadishu, the capital.

The United Nations reported this week that 57,000 residents had fled Mogadishu, a bullet-scarred city of about two million, since February.

Most of the victims are civilians, like Amina Abdullahi, who recently fled Mogadishu with two small children holding her hands and a baby tied to her back.

More than 320,000 people have fled Mogadishu, the capital, since heavy fighting erupted in February.

People who have fled Mogadishu in recent weeks describe it as an armed camp, with weapons readily available for purchase at outdoor markets.

"I have no idea who is fighting who," said Hadiyo Mohamed, 25, who fled Mogadishu three days ago with three young children.

It is estimated that close to 320,000 Somalis have fled Mogadishu since February, with many more still trapped there.

Deadly clashes have forced 490,00 Somalis to flee Mogadishu between February 2007 and May 2007.

Fuad Ahmad, 18, who says he wants to become a doctor, fled Mogadishu in 2003 because of the danger and the lack of schools.