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1st LD Writethru: Over 40 Al-Shabaab militants killed in air strike in Somalia: official

Xinhua, February 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

Some 40 Al-Shabaab militants were killed and scores of others injured in an air strike targeting a base of the militant group in southern Somalia, officials said on Saturday.

Lower Shebelle region governor Abdulkadir Mohamed Nor Sidi told Xinhua the air strike on Saturday afternoon hit an Al-Shabaab convoy and a training camp in the region's Dugale village.

"Over 40 militants were killed in the air strike and a number of others have been injured. The camp has also been completely destroyed," said Sidi on telephone.

A resident in the area told Xinhua by phone that the strike was huge and could be heard from a distance. "There was a loud explosion from the village, and we ran away to escape fearing for our lives."

However, it is not yet verified whether the strike was conducted by the US or the African Union force, AMISOM.

The US and AMISOM have carried out similar strikes in the recent past with the latest in December, killing Al-Shabaab intelligence commander Abdishakur Tahlil. Endi