MOGADISHU, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) on Saturday killed six al-Shabab militants in a gun battle in the country's southern region of Gedo, a military officer confirmed.
Mohamed Ali Abdullahi, commander of Somali National Army (SNA) in Bardhere town told journalists that they have launched an attack on al-Shabab militants in the area following a tip-off from the locals.
"Residents informed us that the militants were forcing them to give compulsory taxes, and our army attacked the area, there was a stiff confrontation, but we finally drove them out of the town and killed six of them during the gunfight," the military commander said.
He added that their forces also burnt two battle vehicles from the militants.
"Al-Shabab militants entered our village ordering us to pay mandatory taxes, but the government army suddenly attacked them, both sides fought for hours, but the militants are now out of the city," Mulki Afrah, a resident told Xinhua via phone.
Southern regions of Somalia have become the battleground of clashes between government forces and al-Shabab extremists after the militants were chased out from the capital Mogadishu in August 2011 by Somali army and African Union forces.
