53 killed, 81 injured in Somali clashes : 6 foreign militants among 16 killed in 2 days of fighting

In a major success, AMISOM has discovered and cut off a mile long trench system used by the foreign-lead extremists to move fighters and ammunition in and out of government held districts. The discovery provoked two days of heavy fighting in the Sigaale and El Hindi areas of Hawl Wadag district of Mogadishu, about 500m south of Bakara Market, as Al Shabab counter-attacked in a desperate attempt to recover this vital asset. During the fighting over the past thirty six hours, AMISOM can confirm that at least six foreign Al Qaeda connected commanders have been killed and dozens of Al Shabab fighters have been wounded.  The names of the dead include among others: 1.       Magid-Al-Yahya Abu Yaman (Hutiin Clan, Yemen) 2.       Sahan Abdowr Barqish (nationality unknown) 3.       Abdi Rabi Mansuur (Pakistan) 4.       Amol Joorkay (India) 5.       Saman Bito (Kenya) 6.       Abdi Magid Asad (Syria) AMISOM have sadly lost two soldiers and a number wounded. The discovery and closure of this tunnel is a major step forward in the stabilisation effort in the city.  The extremists were using the trench and tunnel system to infiltrate fighters closer to AMISOM positions without detection.  It also acted as a protected logistic resupply and casualty evacuation route.  These are part of the new tactics being employed as a result of foreign influence, which has now effectively taken over control of the extremists. The joint TFG / AMISOM operation was in response to the continuous harassment of the population by the extremists. Since the rapid expansion during the failed Al Shabab Ramadan offensive in September last year, TFG and AMISOM now dominate control of 60% of the city, within which an estimated 80% of the 2m population live. ENDS -- Barigye Ba-Hoku Major AMISOM Force Spokesman Tel: Somalia (+252) 699 758567 Tel: Somalia (+252) 165 800500 6 foreign militants among 16 killed in 2 days of fighting Peacekeepers in Somalia Attack Trenches of Rebels - NYTimes.com update on Foreign Jihadists Killed - AU Peacekeeping Mission. Somalia peacekeepers smash key rebel trench system.. More than 20 killed in Mogadishu weekend fighting

Mogadishu (tf.sf)  At least 53 people have been killed and 81 injured in heavy clashes between Somali government troops backed by African Union forces and al-Shabab fighters in Mogadishu. The clashes have been continuing since Saturday, when al-Shabab fighters attacked military bases of the transitional government troops in Mogadishu's southern districts of Hodan, Hawlwadig, and Wardhiigley, according to the report.
Fierce clashes broke out between the two sides and barrages of mortar shells were fired. Somali ambulance workers ferried the wounded to Medina hospital. In a separate incident on Saturday, a number of al-Shabab fighters were killed when Somali forces shelled Bakara Market -- the biggest and busiest market in southern Mogadishu. Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, when warlords overthrew Mohamed Siad Barre. Over the past two decades, up to one million people have lost their lives in the fighting between rival factions and due to famine and disease. There are more than 1.4 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Somalia. More than 300,000 IDPs are sheltering in Mogadishu alone. Most of the displaced live in poor and degrading conditions on makeshift sites in southern and central Somalia, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
  on the other hand

Al shabaab puts on show the bodies of Ugandan soldiers 

AMISOM has already confirmed the death of two AU death and the martyrdom of a Somali patriot. Their death was not in vain, for now we know how Al Shabab is able to smuggle weapons into the government districts and we will launch more offensives to discover and capture others. Not to mention their deaths was avenged with the death of six shabab commanders

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