Nine dead as Somalia's Puntland forces repel Al-Shabaab attack

MOGADISHU, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Forces of the local autonomous Puntland administration in northeast Somalia said nine people including seven Al-Shabaab fighters were killed and weapons seized as local forces repulsed an attack by the militant group near the mountainous area of Galgala, authorities said in a statement on Wednesday.

"At least 7 Al-Shabaab attackers were killed, their weapons were seized and the terrorists retreated with more than 12 wounded, according to intelligence information. Two Puntland soldiers were killed in the nighttime attack," Puntland authorities said in the statement.

A group of heavily armed fighters from Al-Shabaab attacked local defense forces based at the frontlines near Galgala Mountains, said a statement from the authorities. The attack took place late Tuesday.

"The terrorists attacked from different directions and Puntland forces repelled the attackers," the local administration said in the statement.

Authorities say security forces are pursuing the attacker in the mountainous area, a flashpoint of a number of previous clashes with the radical fighters.

Separately, a roadside bomb explosion near Galgala targeted a vehicle transporting Puntland soldiers left "10 casualties", a statement from local administration said without elaborating on the nature of the casualties and when the latter attack took place.

The militant group of Al-Shabaab has lately been active in Puntland particularly in the Galgala area, north of the commercial city of Bossaso, where they sought sanctuary following their successive loses in southern and central parts of the country.

from XINHUA
2012-12-06 09:01:16
Editor: Bi Mingxin

Posted in: Al-Shabaab, Bosaso, Galgala, Mogadishu, Puntland, Somalia