AU to probe alleged killing of 14 Somalians

Unprovoked firing on prayer meeting

MOGADISHU, July 24, (AFP): The African Union force in Somalia said it is investigating the alleged killing of 14 civilians by Ethiopian soldiers, with witnesses saying they opened unprovoked firing on a prayer meeting.

The incident occurred late Sunday in the west of Somalia, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from regional capital Baidoa, and involved Ethiopian troops from the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

“AMISOM has received reports of alleged civilians killed during an offensive between its troops and Al-Shabaab in Wardinle, Bay region,” the mission said in a statement posted on Twitter on Monday evening.

The Al-Qaeda-aligned Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Somalia which is defended by AMISOM troops in the capital Mogadishu and elsehwere.

AMISOM said it had “commenced investigations” and that the findings would be made public.

“Fourteen people, among them traditional elders and civilians, were killed after clashes broke out between Shabaab fighters, and Somali government troops and AMISOM peacekeepers,” said local MP Ibrahim Isak Yarow.

A Palestinian woman prepares to fire at a target during a training session organized by the Hamas-run Security and Protection Service for the first time, in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip on July 24. (AP)