Sixteen killed in fighting between army and Shabab forces, in Somalia

(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency)
Mogadishu, Dhu-AlQa'dah 20, 1437, Aug 23, 2016, SPA -- Sixteen people have been killed when Somali and African Union troops clashed with al-Shabaab militants in
south-western Somalia, officials said Tuesday, dpa reported.
The militants attacked an army base in the village of Moragabey on Monday, said Mohamed Abdi, governor of Bakol province.
He said 15 militants and one soldier were killed.
Al-Shabaab, however, claimed on pro-insurgent radio Andalus that it had killed 20 soldiers.
Four people were meanwhile killed Tuesday when al-Shabaab militants ambushed a military convoy near Beledwayne in central Somalia, military official Ali Abdi said.
The ambush came as the allied troops were launching a new offensive against the Islamists in the area, Abdi said.
-- SPA
23:14 LOCAL TIME 20:14 GMT