Insurgents say US airstrike hit Somalia; US denies report

By MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN Associated Press Writer

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - Islamic fighters say an overnight U.S. airstrike blasted a remote area of central Somalia hours after armed civilians met there, but no one was hurt. The U.S. military denies the report.

Two Islamic insurgents say they heard airplanes overnight and about 10 explosions in the Odam rural area where armed civilians had been meeting Monday. They alleged the strike was carried out by the U.S., though they gave no evidence.

The fighters spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

A spokesman for the U.S. military in Tampa, Fla., says the U.S. had "no activities there overnight."

Last week, a U.S. airstrike killed the suspected leader of al-Qaida in Somalia and 24 other people.