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11 Al-Shabaab militants killed in southern Somalia

Xinhua, November 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Somali National Army (SNA) on Wednesday killed at least 11 Al-Shabaab militants during a heavy fighting at Gof-Gadud village near Baidoa town in southern Somalia.

Special Police Commissioner for Southwest State in Somalia Mohamed Isak Hassan told reporters that the joint forces overpowered the insurgents during the fight resulting in the killing of the militants.

"Al-Shabaab fighters' dream of capturing the area was dashed when 11 of their fighters were killed on the spot and several others were injured. We lost three soldiers and two others sustained injuries, SNA and Southwest State forces fought with the militants here," Hassan said.

The commissioner said the SNA and African Union troops will intensify attacks against the militants until they are flushed out of the Horn of African nation.

However, Al-Shabaab also claimed victory over the latest clashes with Somali government and Southwest State forces, saying they killed three government soldiers.

Independent sources say there were more casualties on Somali forces during the battle and some of the injured were rushed to the hospitals in Baidoa town.

The latest attacks come amid tight security in Somalia due to the ongoing indirect elections which enter final round next week with the election of speaker and president. Endit