Somalia president calls emergency

MOGADISHU, Somalia: Somalia's president has declared a state of emergency as his government struggles to quash Islamic insurgents.

Islamist Al-Shabaab fighters patrol on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 22, 2009. [Agencies]

President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed said Monday that the declaration means "our forces are on full alert." It is not clear what difference the declaration will make on the ground.

Somalia's weak government is coming under attack by Islamic militants who want to topple the U.N.-backed administration. A surge in violence in recent weeks has killed nearly 200 civilians.

Somali lawmakers pleaded this weekend for immediate international military intervention from countries including Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti to help quash the insurgency.

But there was no indication the reinforcements would be forthcoming.