Several dead as al-Shabab storms Somali border town
Heavy fighting erupted on Monday in the Somali border town
of Balad Hawo near Kenya after al-Shabab detonated a suicide car bomb
and then stormed the military base there, the spokesman of the
al-Qaeda-linked group told Reuters news agency.
Al-Shabab, which wants to impose its strict interpretation
of Islam in Somalia, has carried out frequent past attacks in Mogadishu
and elsewhere in its bid to topple the Western-backed government and
drive out African Union troops.
"First, a mujahid with a car bomb rammed into the military
base and then we stormed it," the spokesman, Abdiasis Abu Musab, said.
The group also said 24 Somali soldiers were killed in the
raid, but a Somali military official put the figure at about 10 dead
soldiers.
"We were awoken by a suicide car bomb this morning and then
fierce battle followed," Major Mohamed Abdullahi told Reuters news
agency from the town.
"We lost at least 10 soldiers. We chased al-Shabab out of
the town. We killed seven militants," Abdullahi said. The death toll on
both sides could still rise, however, he added.
Residents said the fighting was continuing.
"First we heard a huge blast at the military base and then
heavy exchange of gunfire followed," Suleiman Nur, a shopkeeper in the
town, told Reuters.
"Al-Shabab captured the military base, the police station and most part of the town," he added. "But still we hear heavy exchange
of gunfire on the far side of town. I could see two military vehicles
taken by al-Shabab."
Somalia has been at war since 1991, when clan-based militias
overthrew long-time leader Siad Barre and then turned on each other.
Source: News agencies
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