115 die in govt offensive on Somali militants

Officials say at least 115 people have been killed in Somalia in recent days as the government has launched a coordinated offensive against al-Qaida-linked militants.

Officials say at least 115 people have been killed in Somalia in recent days as the government has launched a coordinated offensive against al-Qaida-linked militants.

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Ali Muse, the chief of the Mogadishu ambulance service, said on Sunday that 49 civilians had been killed and 157 wounded since the government launched the assault Wednesday.

In addition, at least 60 militants have been killed along with six peacekeepers, according to Biyereke Floredert, a spokesman for the Burundian peacekeepers who are serving in the African Union force.

Somalia's weak government has been promising a full-scale war against militants for years, but coordination among its poorly trained government forces has held up that push.