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| Last Updated: Apr 3, 2012 - 2:47:55 AM |
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Somali border-town clashes kills 20
20 Mar 20, 2011 - 1:07:08 PM
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At least 20 people have been killed and 30 others injured after heavy fighting between forces loyal to Somali government and Al-Shabaab extremist militias broke out in Dobley a Somali-Kenyan border town, on Sunday.
Witnesses told Garowe Online the clashes erupted after Somali government forces attacked Al-Shabaab bases in the town and almost all of the dead people were the warring sides.
“I saw dead bodies of Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab militias, the government forces took over the town form Al-Shabaab early in the morning but on the night Al-Shabaab seized back the city and the government troops left the town,” a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity told Garowe Online.
He adds unknown number of civilians have been killed and injured in the fighting. On Saturday Al-Shabaab withdrew from Diif town about 120 km from Dobley on the Kenyan-Somali border and Somali government forces with Raaskaambooni a pro-government forces took over the town.
Al-Shabaab military spokesman, Sheikh Abdulaziz Abu Muscab claimed that his militias killed dozens of Somali government forces while he was speaking to the press in Mogadishu, the war-torn capital of Somalia.
“Somali government forces backed by Kenyan military troops attacked our bases in Doobley,” he said.
Hundreds of Dobley residents started to flee from the town to neighbouring villages for their safety after heavy clashes hit the town early on Sunday.
Somali government forces backed by Ahlu Sunna pro-government Islamists and Ethiopian forces took over from Al-Shabaab militants three strategic towns in southern Somalia after deadly clashes since late last month.
GAROWEONLINE
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