Ten Somali government soldiers have been admitted in Baidoa hospital following fierce fighting between the Somali government troops and Ethiopian forces on one side and the anti government insurgency on the other side.

The confrontation, in which both heavy and light machine guns were used, has occurred at Balidoogle airport some 100km south of Mogadishu .

No Ethiopian casualties were reported since the Ethiopian military does not discuss operations with the media.

The insurgency has scaled up its military operation in Somalia by launching a number of high profile attacks against the Somali government forces and their Ethiopian allies.