Firefight rocks airport in Kismayu, Somalia

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

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KISMAYU, Somalia, May 28 (UPI) -- A firefight began between militants and government troops at the airport in Kismayu, Somalia, while a government delegation was inside, defense officials said.

The Defense Ministry said the militants, believed to be members of the outlawed fundamentalist al-Shabaab militia, struck the airport Monday night as the airport hosted a government delegation that included Defense Minister Abdi Hakin Haji Mohamud Fiqi, Shabelle Media Network reported Tuesday.

After the militants bombarded the airport, government troops retaliated with rockets and gunfire, witnesses said.

Witnesses told Shabelle the fighting lasted for nearly an hour and caused severe damages at the airport in Kismayu, capital of the lower Juba region.

Shabelle did not include reports of any injuries or deaths.

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