Somalia says 1 killed, 55 hurt in this week's political violence

One person was killed and 55 injured in political violence that erupted in Somalia's capital this week, according to a government statement on Sunday.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has sparked a fresh political crisis by announcing a one-year extension of his term, which had been due to expire on May 15.

The opposition and regional leaders planned to protest in Mogadishu on Thursday, but violence broke out before they could be held, with AFP reporting heavy gunfire through the previous day and night.

The Ministry of Health said there was one confirmed fatality and 55 injuries based on information "collected and verified through hospitals and health facilities".

AFP was not able to independently verify the numbers.

The clashes involved government forces and militias allied to opposition leaders, including former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire who had relocated into the centre of the city to take part in the protest.

Lawmakers loyal to the current president changed the constitution in March with a view to moving Somalia towards its first direct national elections, replacing a system based around clan elders.

With the country deeply divided between rival clans, and much of it under the control of Islamist insurgent group Al-Shabaab, there has been little progress on organising elections beyond a few localised pockets.

Opposition and regional leaders have strongly opposed Mohamud's plan, seeing it as an attempt to centralise power.