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                Lawmaker: At Least 17 Killed in Somalia Fighting

   by VOA News

   A Somali lawmaker said at least 17 fighters with militant group
   al-Shabab have been killed in fighting with Ethiopian and Somali
   government troops.

   Parliament member Mohamed Mashru told VOA Somali Service the troops
   attacked an al-Shabab base Wednesday at Agab-Bedey village, near the
   Somali town of Hudur.

   Mashru said he saw the bodies of the al-Shabab fighters lying on the
   ground after the battle ended.

   His account has not been independently confirmed.

   Ethiopian troops are in Somalia as part of a multi-nation,
   three-pronged campaign against al-Shabab.

   Kenyan forces have been fighting the group in southern Somalia, while
   African Union and Somali government forces have pushed the militants
   out of the capital, Mogadishu.

   Al-Shabab once controlled most of southern and central Somalia but has
   steadily lost ground in the past 18 months.

   The militant group, which is allied with al-Qaida, continues to carry
   out suicide attacks in Mogadishu and retains control of some parts of
   Somalia.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/somalia_attack/416850.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/somalia_attack/416850.html