YAOUNDE, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon's military has killed seven people including separatist fighters in an operation in the country's war-torn English-speaking region of Northwest, security and local sources said on Tuesday.

The offensive carried out late Monday, targeted the locality of Batibo of the region which the military says is a stronghold of separatist fighters.

"It was a cleansing operation. The area had suffered from atrocities committed by the armed separatists and civilians were paying the greatest price. Six separatists were killed during the operation and one civilian unfortunately died, killed by a stray bullet," a military official who asked not to be named told Xinhua by phone.

Early Tuesday, locals told Xinhua some of their kinsmen were arrested during the operation and "several villagers" escaped to the bush where "they are still hiding".

Since 2017, separatist fighters have been clashing with government forces in Cameroon's two English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest where they want to create an independent nation they called "Ambazonia". Enditem

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