MOGADISHU, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Ten al-Shabab militants have been killed on Tuesday evening in a fierce fighting in Afgoye town in the country's southern part of Lower Shebelle region, officials said on Wednesday.
Lower Shabelle region governor Mohamed Ibrahim Barre told journalists that the attack came after al-Shabab militants had attempted to overrun Afgoye, which is 30 km northwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu, but they were overpowered.
"They (al-Shabab) tried to attack the town but our forces were able to subdue them, killing 10 of their fighters and injured 10 others. We have lost two of our soldiers," the governor said.
He added that they are in full control of the town, vowing more operations against the militants in Lower Shabelle region in southern Somalia.
Residents in the agricultural town of Afgoye said they heard gunshots on Tuesday night.
"There was huge gunfire at the town and we felt panic during the gunfight," Isaq Abdi, a resident, told Xinhua.
The terror group al-shabab did not comment on the incident but the al-Qaida affiliated group conducted a deadly attack on Tuesday at a hotel in the neighboring Kenya, killing 14 civilians.
