(Adds quote, details) MOGADISHU, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Somali gunmen in the eastern part of Mogadishu attacked Ethiopian troops backing the interim government and fierce fighting ensued for about 15 minutes, a resident said on Sunday. "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." The resident said fighting was so fierce it lit up the area. A government source confirmed the attack at a compound where the Ethiopian soldiers were staying. A hand grenade was thrown at the compound just days ago. "The insurgents came with two vehicles and opened fire at government forces holding defences outside a compound where Ethiopian troops are staying," the source said. "The Ethiopians were inside. Fighting ensued. Heavy fire was exchanged, one anti-tank rocket was launched by the insurgents. I have no news of casualties yet." Heavily armed Ethiopian forces helped the Somali government drive out Islamists in two weeks of open warfare, allowing the administration to break free from its provincial outpost Baidoa to end six months of Islamist rule across much of south Somalia.
