Kenyan soldier kills several Somalis

Soldier immediately disarmed after shooting at least six people, believed to be civilians, in southern Somalia.

Militia allied with the Federal Governme
Kenyan Defence Forces have been in Somalia since last October [AFP]

A Kenyan soldier with the African Union force in Somalia has killed six people, all believed to be civilians, after firing on them, a spokesman for the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) has said.

“Several people approached a KDF defensive position where a KDF soldier opened fire, killing six people,” the army said in a statement on Monday.

“The soldier was immediately disarmed and has since been put on guarded seclusion.”

The incident took place on Sunday in Jana Cabdalla, a town about 40km from the port city of Kismayo, the last major bastion of al-Shabab, the armed Islamist group.

Removing al-Shabab from Kismayo has been a long-term goal of Kenyan forces ever since they entered Somalia last October, but reaching the city has taken longer than initially planned.

Source: News Agencies