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Somali forces retake border town from Al-Shabaab militants

Xinhua, September 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Somalia's government troops on Saturday retook the southern El-Wak town, situated along the border with Kenya, from Al-Shabaab militants that briefly controlled it.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said the Somali forces pushed back the militants who seized the town on Friday after an attack on the Somali army base there.

AMISOM troops are helping the Somali government battle Al-Shabaab militants.

AMISOM force spokesperson, Joe Kibet, confirmed to Xinhua that the Somali National Army (SNA) recaptured El-Wak early Saturday.

Kibet said the militants seized several weapons, including machine guns, but suffered heavy casualties in the Friday attack.

At least four Somali soldiers were killed and another injured in the attack, an army spokesperson in Gedo region, where the town is located, earlier said.

Al-Shabaab said it captured the town and claimed to have killed senior government officials and recovered vehicles and weapons.

The Islamist group carries out frequent attacks in Somalia in its bid to topple the government.

Sources said the militants hoisted their black flag at El-Wak's administrative headquarters and spoke to residents after they took the town. Endit