Gunmen attack Ethiopian troops in Mogadishu -resident

MOGADISHU, Jan 7 (Reuters) Somali gunmen in the eastern part of Mogadishu attacked Ethiopian troops backing the interim government and fierce fighting ensued from about 15 minutes, a resident said today.

''The Ethiopians in K4 are under attack. They were attacked first,'' the resident who lives nearby and declined to be named said, referring to an eastern district in Mogadishu.

''Fierce fighting went on for 15 minutes. I could hear sounds of heavy machine guns rattling.'' Reuters PB DB2257