Somalia: Six civilians killed in Merca security operation
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- Posted On 21-07-2015, 03:40PM
MERCA, Somalia, July 21, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Six civilians have been killed in violent security sweep in Lower Shabelle regional capital of Merca of southern Somalia on Tuesday according to official, Garowe Online reports.
Merca mayor, Hassan Omar Moallim said on VOA Somali Service that he only heard about the killing of six civilians, half the number of deaths reported by some sources.
Media reports initially indicated that over a dozen civilians including women and children were killed in a barrage of shots fired by African Union peacekeepers in downtown Merca.
A landmine blast laid by Al Shabaab assailants is believed to have stirred the security operation in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Al Qaeda-inspired militant group claimed credit for the landmine attack.
Merca, 109km southwest of Mogadishu is a home to a jetty-class seaport and became strategic springboard for militants.
On August 27, 2012, Somali government forces aided by African Union troops liberated the Indian Ocean town from Al Shabaab fighters.
GAROWE ONLINE
