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Somali troops, Ethiopian forces seize towns from Al-shabab
[Shabelle] Somali government troops backed by Ethiopian forces on Friday captured two strategic towns in the south of the horn of African nation after Al-Shabaab ... successor to the Islamic Courts... fighters decamped the area, residents and officials said. The towns of Bur-Hakaba and Qadsax-dhere, Bay region in the southwest of the country fell into government hands without any fighting with Al-Shabaab fighters who left the town hours before the troops entered, residents said. Somali government officials have welcomed the retaking of these two strategic towns in Bay region and called local residents for calm after the allied forces rolled in. The cut-thoat group of Al-Shabaab linked with Al-Qaeda has been losing territory to Somali government forces and forces from neighboring country following the retreat of the group's fighters from the Somali capitalMogadishulast year. The Al-Shabaab commanders have previously described their withdrawal from the areas in south and centre of the country, includingMogadishuas tactical move, saying their forces would revert to guerilla war. Posted by: Fred 2012-04-09 |
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