Reuters FEISAL OMAR
“Reuters” agency quoted a medical source as saying that at least 11 people were killed today, Monday, as a result of fighting in the Gedo region of southwestern Somalia between the Somali Federal Army and the forces of Jubaland state.
Mahmoud Jumi, a doctor at Balad Hawa Hospital, told the agency: “We received 11 dead civilians. Another 14 civilians were wounded.”
The vice president of Jopaland, Muhammad Syed, told “Reuters” that the federal forces bombed residential areas, adding: “The shells fell on a house and killed a family of 5.”
For its part, the Somali government accused local forces of bombing residential areas.
The Somali Federal Government confirmed the fighting, which focused in Balad Hawa, which borders Kenya, but none of the central authorities and the administration of Jubaland, one of Somalia’s 5 autonomous states, did not announce any casualties.
Mogadishu has accused Kenya of supporting Jubaland forces in the fighting, a charge the state denies.
Somali Minister of Information, Othman Dubai, told reporters in Mogadishu: “Kenya and the rebels they supported attacked Balad Hawa last night … We overcame the enemy and captured a hundred of them.”
While the Kenyan Minister of Security, Farid Matiangi, stated that none of the Kenyan forces crossed into Somalia, and described what is happening as an internal Somali affair.
The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for a halt to the clashes, warning that “the situation could further destabilize the region, complicate the security situation and waste the gains made in the battle against terrorism.”
Source: “Reuters”
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