Somali forces kill two al-Shabab militants in southern Somalia

MOGADISHU, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Somali forces backed by African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) killed two al-Shabab militants during midnight clashes in Bula-Marer area in the country's southern town of Kuntuwarey, officials said on Thursday.

Muhudin Khalif Aliyow, deputy governor for security of Kuntuwarey town told journalists that the allied forces engaged fierce battle with the extremists in Bula-Marer in Lower Shabelle region.

"The militants attacked our military base at midnight attempting to overrun it but our forces fought them back bravely and inflicted them heavy casualties killing two of them," the official said.

He added that Somali forces are in full control of the town and are making operations to pursue those who are hiding in the town.

Residents said they were terrified by the heavy weapons exchanged by the two warring sides.

"Al-Shabab fighters launched an attack on a military base used by government forces, there was street fighting that lasted for a while," Qamar Adam, a local resident told Xinhua by phone.

The attack comes a day after al-Shabab militants conducted a similar attack on the government forces in Bal'ad town in Middle Shabelle region in southern Somalia.