Baidoa attack repelled by Somali army, government says

Somalia's federal government said its army repelled an attack on Baidoa on Thursday, September 3, after forces loyal to ousted South West State governor Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen launched an assault on the key city.

The fighting began around 4:00 am local time and lasted for several hours. No immediate casualty figures were available.

Somalia's Ministry of Defence said federal troops defeated militias loyal to Laftagareen and Al-Shabaab militants who it said had joined the attack. AFP said it could not independently verify the alleged alliance or the ministry's claim that federal forces inflicted heavy losses.

A spokesperson for the pro-Laftagareen forces said they had captured parts of Baidoa and that fighting was continuing. Several residents gave a different account, saying the city was calm after about six hours of clashes.

Resident Hassan Mumin said Laftagareen-aligned forces entered parts of the city before withdrawing and that the government was in control. He said he saw the bodies of two fighters.

The federal government sent troops in March to oust Laftagareen. His forces later made a failed attempt to retake the state in May and clashed with federal troops over Baidoa in August.