5 Somali soldiers killed in Mogadishu
Five Somali soldiers have been killed after bitter clashes broke out between al-Shabab fighters and the transitional government troops in Mogadishu, Press TV reported.
The Somali troops died on Thursday after al-Shabab fighters carried out a surprise attack on a military base of the transitional government forces in the Dharkenley district of southern Mogadishu.
An intense battle broke out in the aftermath of the attack with the two sides exchanging heavy gunfire and barrages of mortar shells.
Nine Somali soldiers sustained injuries as a result.
"Five soldiers were killed and several others wounded after al-Shabab fighters attacked a government military base early on Thursday," an eyewitness identified as Ahmed Aden told Press TV.
Colonel Abdullahi Osman Cagey, a Somali military commander, confirmed the incident. However, he denied any casualties on the government side.
"They (al-Shabab) carried out a surprise attack on our position in the area; but our soldiers successfully repulsed them," he said.
Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, when warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
The Somali government has struggled for years to restore security but efforts have not yet yielded results in the nation.
Five Somali soldiers have been killed after bitter clashes broke out between al-Shabab fighters and the transitional government troops in Mogadishu, Press TV reported.
The Somali troops died on Thursday after al-Shabab fighters carried out a surprise attack on a military base of the transitional government forces in the Dharkenley district of southern Mogadishu.
An intense battle broke out in the aftermath of the attack with the two sides exchanging heavy gunfire and barrages of mortar shells.
Nine Somali soldiers sustained injuries as a result.
"Five soldiers were killed and several others wounded after al-Shabab fighters attacked a government military base early on Thursday," an eyewitness identified as Ahmed Aden told Press TV.
Colonel Abdullahi Osman Cagey, a Somali military commander, confirmed the incident. However, he denied any casualties on the government side.
"They (al-Shabab) carried out a surprise attack on our position in the area; but our soldiers successfully repulsed them," he said.
Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, when warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
The Somali government has struggled for years to restore security but efforts have not yet yielded results in the nation.
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