Suspected rebels 'kill five Senegalese troops'
ZIGUINCHOR, Senegal — Suspected separatist rebels on Monday killed five soldiers during clashes in southern Senegal's troubled Casamance region, the army's public relations wing said.
This is the heaviest toll suffered by Senegalese troops since six soldiers were killed in October 2009 by suspected rebels waging one of Africa's longest running insurgencies in a bid for independence.
"There were indeed losses. Five soldiers died following clashes this morning" in the Bignona area, near the border with Gambia, an official at the military's public relations department told AFP.
A military source in Ziguinchor, Casamance's main city, said the deaths took place in the village of Boutalate, 35 kilometres (22 miles) from Ziguinchor. Soldiers were "ambushed by elements of the MFDC (Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance)," while carrying out an operation, the source told AFP.
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