Somalis demonstrate in Mogadishu against record-high inflation, 06 May 2008

Residents of Somalia's capital protested for a second straight day Tuesday against rising food prices and traders who refuse to accept old currency.

Witnesses say hundreds of youths blocked roads in Mogadishu and threw stones at passing vehicles.

Government security forces shot and killed three people during larger protests on Monday.

A local traders union said Tuesday that businesses in the city's large Bakara market have agreed to accept both the old and new Somali shillings.

Somalia's government recently introduced the new currency to combat counterfeiters.

Somalis say a flood of fake bills has devalued the shilling and driven up inflation. Many traders are demanding payment in U.S. dollars.

The Somali currency has tumbled in value over the past year. One U.S. dollar is currently worth about 30,000 Somali shillings.

The Somali government has struggled to assert authority over the conflict-ridden country, which has not had a stable central government in 17 years.

Some information for this report was provided by and Reuters.