MOGADISHU, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on Thursday night vowed to pursue Al-Shabaab militants after the insurgents raided a military base in Puntland region and killed over 30 soldiers.
Mohamed who also sent his condolences to the families and the people of Puntland following Thursday's ambush on a military camp in Af-Urur, about 100km from the port city of Bosaso pledged not to relent in the war against terrorism.
In a statement issued in Mogadishu, the president termed the fallen soldiers as the true martyrs since they died while protecting their people and their country.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a number of our gallant soldiers in Thursday's attack in Af-Urur, Puntland. They fought hard and bravely for their country, to keep their people safe during this holy month of Ramadan. We will forever remember them, they are the real martyrs," he said.
The president promised Al-Shabaab would be pursued and would pay for Thursday's heinous attack.
"We promise that Al-Shabaab won't get away with this. As of now, our troops are in hot pursuit of the enemy; they will pay for today's attack. I am confident our forces would defeat this abhorrent enemy," he vowed.
Heavily armed militants stormed a military base in Somalia's semiautonomous state of Puntland, killing over 30 people and wounding dozens more.
The assault began with a blast at the remote Af-Urur camp, about 100km west of the commercial hub of Bossaso, before the fighters overran the base and killed Puntalnd Dervish Army soldiers at close range.
However, Puntland's interior minister, Abdi Hersi Ali said troops suffered casualties but he declined to give further details.
The minister said the militants killed fasting civilians, including elders before attacking the troops stationed at the base and dismissed the death toll figure given by the Al-Shabaab who had claimed they killed 61 soldiers, terming it "baseless".
"The group suffered most casualties. The militants killed elders and innocent civilians, before attacking a remote outpost manned by Puntland troops, where they encountered a stiff resistance and lost many combatants," Ali said.
In his statement President Farmaajo assured Somalis that his administration would not show mercy in dealing with Al-Shabaab terrorists who have no regard for the sanctity of life and the holy month of Ramadan.
"This once again proves that the enemy we are facing is dangerous, is bent on causing harm to the peace loving people of this country and must be fought with by all means. We must show no mercy in dealing with Al-Shabaab," he said.
