Thursday, February 02, 2012
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The Somali government forces backed by Kenyan troops have reportedly captured a strategic town in southern Somalia after al-Shabab fighters vacate the town without any resistance, Press TV reports. “Several pro-government forces, including Kenyan soldiers and Ahlu-Sunna fighters are now based in Howsingow town,” said Mohamed Khalif, a Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) military official on Wednesday.
“We are planning to capture Badhadhe town, which is a strong-hold of al-Shabab in a few hours to come,” he added.
Al-shabab officials, however, have dismissed the report, saying the Howsingow is still under their control.
Meanwhile, clashes between Somali troops and al-Shabab fighters in Somalia's southern town of Dhobley, close to the Kenyan border, have left 10 al-Shabab troops dead and several injured, said the spokesman for government troops in Dhobley, Mohamed Farah.
Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, when warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.