Civilians killed in Somali military operation

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - A Somali official on Friday accused the country’s armed forces and its foreign backers of killing nine civilians -- including a woman and a child.

Ali Nur Mohamed, deputy governor of the Lower Shabelle region, told reporters the civilians were killed when foreign troops with Somali forces raided a farm near Barire village.

"Forces from the Somali government and foreign troops stormed a farm near Barire village earlier on Friday [and] killed at least nine people.

“Military commanders and other government authorities in the region don't know about the operation," Nur said.

"The victims were all civilians and we do not yet know why these innocent farmers were killed," he added.

He described the incident as "a real genocide" and blamed the U.S.

At Madina hospital in the capital Mogadishu, officials displayed the victims to the media on Friday afternoon.

The government said its forces, backed by U.S troops, had taken control of Barire from the al-Shabaab terrorist group last week.

Barire is a small strategic village located 64 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of Mogadishu.