39 die in clashes between govt. forces, al-Shabab fighters

[KingBlack]

Clashes between Somali government troopers and al-Shabab fighters in southern Somalia have killed at least 18 of the forces and 21 of the fighters, Press TV reports.

The clashes broke out in the town of Lego in the Lower Shabelle region on Thursday.

Senior Somali military officer Ahmed Jamac also confirmed the causalities.

In December 2006, al-Shabab began attempting to topple the various configurations of the country’s former Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

In the process, al-Shabab fighters fought the Ethiopian forces that had invaded Somalia on a so-called mission to prop up the TFG besides turning their weapons on the African Union Mission in Somalia and TFG troops.

Somalia did not have an effective central government from 1991, when warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre until August 20, when the Federal Government of Somalia took over from the TFG.