At least seven people were killed in heavy fighting between the Somali army and Al-Shabaab militants on Thursday night, an official said Friday.

Four militants and three Somali soldiers were killed after insurgents attacked an army checkpoint in Afgoye, about 30 km south of Mogadishu, said an official of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency.

"We killed four militants during the fighting in which we lost three of our soldiers. Three more soldiers were injured but we managed to arrest three Al-Shabaab fighters," said the official who did not want to be named.

Governor of Lower Shabelle region Ibrahim Aden Ali said three soldiers were wounded but denied that any soldiers were killed.

"Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked at an army checkpoint in Afgoye town on Thursday afternoon, then fighting broke out. It lasted 15 minutes. We recovered weapons and three soldiers sustained injuries," Aden said.

But Al-Shabaab terror group said its fighters killed many soldiers and briefly took control of the town. It also denied allegations that it suffered heavy losses in the fighting.

Al-Shabaab militants attacked Afgoye town in October and killed at least 12 people. Endi

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