Amisom Claim Al-Shabaab Attack "An Attempt", Kill 110 Militants

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Amisom Claim Al-Shabaab Attack "An Attempt", Kill 110 Militants

The African Union AMISOM force fighting in Somalia said on Thursday its troops repelled an attack on one of its bases by the Al-Shabaab Islamist group and killed 110 militants.

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The African Union AMISOM force fighting in Somalia said on Thursday its troops repelled an attack on one of its bases by the Al-Shabaab Islamist group and killed 110 militants.

Residents near the base in the central town of Halgan said they heard a huge explosion and heavy exchanges of gunfire shortly before dawn.

Shots rang out at least an hour after the initial blast, they said.

"There was an attempted attack this morning. They were repulsed. Our troops are in control of the situation," a spokesman for Amisom force said in a brief statement, without giving details or any casualties.

Amisom forces killed 110 Al-Shabaab and captured a large cache of weapons," Lieutenant Colonel Joe Kibet told Reuters by telephone, adding that a claim by Al-Shabaab that it had killed 60 AU soldiers was a "falsehood".

Amisom, made up of troops from African nations supporting Somalia's Western-backed government and army in the fight against the al Qaeda-linked militants, usually says it is up to troop-contributing countries to announce casualties.

"We understand there are casualties on both sides. AU forces fought back fiercely and repulsed Al-Shabaab," Somali military officer Major Abdifatah Elmi told Reuters from Bulaburde town in the region.

But he said he did not have figures.