Mogadishu (RBC) At least three government forces were killed as more than six others including senior spokesman were wounded after Al Shabaab fighters ambushed a convoy of president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed returning from Afgoye district on Tuesday, RBC Radio reports.

The attack occurred at Calamada location on the Afgoye corridor which is 19-km south of the capital shortly after the president paid his first visit to Afgoye district which the government forces backed by AMISOM seized from Al Shabaab on Friday.

Three of the president’s special guards were killed in fierce gun battle which lasted for more than twenty minutes between the government forces and Al Shabaab fighters. Senior Ahlusuna spokesman Mohamed Hussein Owliyo was among those wounded.

The convoy which among government ministers, members of the parliament and military officials were later escorted to the capital and none of the high profile people was hurt in the attack, the spokesperson of the transitional government said this afternoon.

“After the consecutive defeat which they are encountering from the government and AMISOM, the extremists tried to attack us but in Allah’s wishes they failed.” Gen Abdulkarim Yusuf Aden told RBC Radio. “Five of Al Shabaab members were arrested in today’s attack.” He added.

Meanwhile Al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis abu Mus’ab said that his fighters killed senior government officials in today’s attack.

He added that the fighters of Al Shabaab have still presence in the area and will maintain attacks against the government forces and the AMISOM.

The situation of the Afgoye corridor was calm this afternoon as the government sent reinforcement troops.

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