Witnesses say at least 20 people were killed and more than a dozen wounded during 24 hours of clashes in south and central Somalia.

The fighting pitted insurgents against allied Somali and Ethiopian soldiers just south of the capital, Mogadishu, and in the central Somali town of Mataban, witnesses said Wednesday.

The death toll could not be independently confirmed.

Several witnesses said most people were unable to reach hospitals. Travel is restricted at night in Somalia.

At least nine people were killed outside Mogadishu, the victims’ relatives told The Associated Press. In Mataban, 10 Ethiopian soldiers and several civilians were reported killed.