Somalia: Militants beheads government soldiers in Mahaday

MAHADAY, Somalia- The Somalia-based Islamic group, al-Shabaab has publicly beheaded two Somali military soldiers in rebel-held town in Middle Shabelle region onSaturday, Garowe Online reports.

The two soldiers who were identified as Mowlid Hussein Qeylshe and Ahmed Yacqub were abducted by al-Shabaab militants during an ambush on a passenger bus they were traveling near Mahaday district.

"Today, al-Shabaab fighters have executed 2 Somali government soldiers captured near Biya-Adde area in Middle Shabelle region this morning," said a military officer who spoke to GO over the phone.

In a small settlement near Mahaday, the extremists called residents to an open square to witness the beheading of the two soldiers who were serving with SNA's 1st and 2nd battalions, the sources added.

In a statement posted on its affiliated websites, the militants have confirmed the public executions and said the soldiers were found guilty of being members of Somali National Army (SNA).

The al-Shabaab group linked to Al Qaeda had previously executed many Somali soldiers and African Union peacekeepers, after capturing them in attacks against their bases in south and central Somalia.

The group is aiming to topple the UN-backed Somali Federal government based in Mogadishu, by fighting allied 22,000 strong African Union peacekeeping soldiers (AMISOM) stationed in Somalia. 

GAROWEONLINE