20111025
Press TV
At least 59 people have been killed and dozens more wounded during French military attacks on the Somali island of Kudhaa near the country's border with Kenya, Press TV reports.

French warplanes and warships joined Kenya against Somalia's al-Shabab group and bombarded the fighters' positions in the famine-hit country on Monday.

Hashi Mohamed, a Somali military officer, confirmed to Press TV's correspondent that the French army gave assistance to Kenyan troops in their military operation against al-Shabab in southern Somalia.

“Fifty nine fighters were killed and 100 more wounded,” Mohamed said.

On Sunday, Kenyan army spokesman Maj. Emmanuel Chirchir said the French navy also targeted the town of Kuday near the southern al-Shabab stronghold of Kismayo on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Kenyan troops have advanced about 100 kilometers (60 miles) into the southern areas and, having seized the key Somali town of Qooqani last Tuesday, are bracing for another round of attacks on the strategic city of Afmadow, largely controlled by al-Shabab.

The main target of the joint Somali-Kenyan offensive is to flush out the fighters from the port city of Kismayo -- al-Shabab's economic headquarters, located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) southeast of Afmadow.

The Kenyan military intervention followed Nairobi's accusation that al-Shabab had kidnapped four European women, including two Spanish humanitarian aid workers, in Kenya over the past weeks.

Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991 when warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. [left]