Kenyan soldier arrested in Somali deaths

• Tweet

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- A Kenyan soldier was arrested for allegedly killing six Somali civilians during a clash with al-Shabaab militants in Somalia, Kenyan military officials say.

The victims were shot Sunday when they approached a defensive position of Kenyan soldiers, but the reason for their deaths is still unclear, Shabelle Media Network reported.

The incident occurred near the village of Jana Cabdalla during a gun battle between the militants and Kenyan soldiers, said a spokesman at military headquarters in Nairobi.

The Kenyan soldier accused of shooting the civilians was immediately disarmed and arrested.

The incident was being investigated by African Union forces and Kenyan commanders.

Earlier in the day, five other civilians and a Kenyan soldier died in another battle in the same area between al-Shabaab and Kenyan army forces.

The Kenyan forces were escorting the Somali civilians to a well when they were attacked, a Kenyan military spokesman said.

The Kenyan troops are part of an African Union Mission in Somalia force that has captured various towns in Somalia as they advance toward the northern port city of Kismayo, They have killed more than 1,000 al-Shabaab militants.