4 killed in central Somalia in suspected Al-Shabaab attack

MOGADISHU, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Suspected Al-Shabaab militants killed four people at a checkpoint in central Somalia on early Sunday morning, prompting fierce retaliation from government forces, a local official said.

The militants ambushed a checkpoint in Jawil area in Beledweyne region where the local government collects road levies, said local administrator Mahad Yusuf.

"Four people died in the fighting this morning in Jawil after Al-Shabaab attacked forces manning the roadblock," Yusuf said. "The fighting lasted for almost half an hour."