The Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Wednesday refuted reports that its peacekeeping troops fired rounds of mortars on residential areas near the southern port city of Marka.
In a statement, AMISOM said its routine weapon testing exercise had the impact site pre-determined and was carried out far away from residential areas.
“The local administration was also aware of the planned weapon’s testing,†they stated.
The statement comes after residents in Marka claimed that AMISOM troops shelled residential areas on Tuesday. There were reports that AU forces stationed at Ayub camp bombed villages located on the outskirts of Marka, causing casualties and property damages.
AMISOM forces, alongside the Somali army have been battling the Al-Shabaab Islamist group. They have recently stepped up the fight against the militants believed to have been hiding in remote regions in southern Somalia.
 Source: XINHUA
