At Least 5 Killed, 9 Others Injured In S. Somalia Clash

At least five people were killed and nine others injured on Saturday in a heavy fighting between Somali National Army backed by the African Union peacekeeping forces (AMISOM) and Al-Shabaab militants in Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia.

Mohamed Shino, spokesman of Lower Shabelle region, said four militants and a soldier were killed in the fighting which broke out between the national forces and militants in Barawo town close to Barawe district.

"The fighting begun last night and went until this morning. Four of the casualties were from Al-Shabaab," Shino told journalists.

Shino said AU forces and government troops, which have been pacifying several region, had the upper hand in the latest fight there.

"We also have 7 Al-Shabaab members injured. We lost one soldier and two others were injured from our side during the battle," Shino added.

The militants have not claimed responsibility for the latest attack in Barawo, which lies 200 km south of the capital Mogadishu, and is among the key towns liberated from Al-Shabaab in 2014.
(Cihan/Xinhua)