MOGADISHU, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Galmudug is seeking apology and compensation from the U.S. after 13 of its soldiers were killed and seven others injured by a U.S. airstrike on Wednesday.
The northern region's Information Minister Mohamud Aden Osman called on Washington to carry out further investigations into the airstrikes.
"One soldier is missing. The strike has also caused the destruction of two battle-wagons belonging to Galmudug forces," said Osman in a statement on Friday.
"None of our security services (state and national level) were informed about the attack," said Osman, terming the deadly U.S. airstrike an attack.
Osman said the state was very disappointed that the U.S. Pentagon had used an excessive force against Galmudug forces with "misinformation" from authorities in the semi-autonomous Puntland state that made the U.S. forces beleive they were targeting Al-Shabaab militants.
"We suspect that Puntland State of Somalia provided wrong information deliberately with its own interest to secure the attack," Osman said.
He said the the misinformation was aimed at creating "hostility that can undermine the relationship between the two states."
"This will also has a repercussion in the fight against terrorism, and will cause the attention of the terror war to be forgotten and turn to political rivalry," he said but added Galmudug would remain determined in the fight against the Al-Shabaab Islamist group.
The U.S. airstrike on Wednesday hit a camp of Galmudug forces in eastern Galkayo. Galmudug authorities initially said 22 soliders were killed and 16 others injured in the bombardment, which sparked street demonstrations against U.S. forces.
Osman said the incident could benefit Al-Shabaab militants who want to disrupt Somalia's upcoming elections which had been delayed twice. Voting is expected to begin in late October for a new parliament and lawmakers will then choose a president on Nov. 30.
"In this critical time, the only option we have is to cooperate and not inciting violence and hostility," he said.
The U.S. has carried out a series of airstirkes in Somalia against Al-Shaabaab, which has been fighting to topple the Somali government for years.
