Somalia: 4 Al-Shabaab killed in clash with gov't forces

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least seven people including three Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) forces and four al-Shabaab militants were killed after heavy fighting between the Somali army and al-Shabaab in Afgoye town, officials said Thursday.

Abdirahman Ahmed Hassan, a NISA officer told Anadolu Agency over the phone that the fighting begun after al-Shabaab militants attacked an army base in Afgoye, lower Shabelle region of Somalia.

"Three of our forces were killed and three others wounded during the clash. We killed four al-Shabaab militants. We captured three alive," Hassan said.

Idris Hassan, an eyewitness in Afgoye, told Anadolu Agency that the gunfight was still going on.

"I heard huge gunfire with blasts.. We don't know the actual casualties caused by this fighting," Idris Hassan said.

Agoye is an agricultural and strategic town located only 30 kilometers southwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu, which once was under al-Shabaab control.

Late October this year al-Shabaab attacked Afgoye and captured the whole town which resulted in the death of at least 12 people.