SOMALIA: Mahamed Said Atam claims victory over Puntland forces
BOSASSO (RBC) The leader of Islamist rebel group in Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland Sheikh Mahamed Said Atam claimed his militia men still manage much of the mountainous district of Galgala where they seized in heavy gun battle on Wednesday night.
“The Islamic forces captured the town with many weapons and at the moment we are closely watching the town,” Atam told local media today by phone telling that he is in Galgala.
He blamed the forces of Puntland state rejected to vacate the town which he said they occupied from the native residents and that was why they ambushed on Wednesday causing heavy loss of life.
“Only two of my men died as we killed more of PIS soldiers. Their bodies still lay on the ground here,” he continued.
Atam, An arms-smuggler on both U.S. and U.N. security watch-lists vowed that he will not halt the fighting against what he described PIS (Puntland Intelligence Service) for their offensive against the Galgala people.
Puntland security minister told on Wednesday that the security forces resisted the pro-Al shabab militias ambushed the Galgala district which is only 40 KM southwest of Bosasso port town.
At least 16 people were killed in ensuing battle which erupted in midnight and continued till the dawn of Wednesday, sources told RBC Radio. But there are no any independent sources to confirm who controls the town.
Since October last year when Puntland forces siezed Galgala, Atam’s milia were re-grouping in Beer village of Sanag region under the protection of Somaliland administration, Puntland security minister told RBC Radio.
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