It says the situation is "dire" in the centre and the south with government troops, their Ethiopian allies and Islamist insurgents "out of control".

The rights group condemned the killing of more than 20 people, including some religious scholars, during the raid.

It quoted witnesses as saying that many of the dead were unarmed civilians, and that some had had their throats cut.

Ethiopia denied its troops were involved in the killings, which came during fierce clashes with insurgents.

"The safety and welfare of the children must be paramount for all parties," said Amnesty's UK Director Kate Allen.

The bodies of 10 people have been found in a mosque in the Somali capital, after two days of clashes between Ethiopian troops and insurgents.

Local residents blame the killings on the Ethiopians, who are backing the government against Islamist fighters.

Six of the dead are religious leaders from the Tabliq Sufi sect, which is not involved in the conflict.

Some 70 people were killed over the weekend, local residents say. Sporadic shooting can still be heard.