Somali, AU troops Capture Shabaab Stronghold - Minister

Somali government troops backed by African Union forces on Friday captured the Shabaab stronghold of Dinsor, the second town seized from the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamists this week, the defence minister said.



"Our forces have secured control of Dinsor, and the insurgents have fled after losing the battle... the troops are now conducting security operations to clear the town," Somali Defence Minster, General Abdulkadir Sheikh Ali Dini told reporters.

The fall of Dinsor comes after the capture by AU troops of the nearby town of Bardhere on Wednesday, some of the last key towns held by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamists.

Witnesses confirmed the takeover of the southern town, saying the Shabaab fled ahead of government and Ethiopian troops with the AU force, pulling out of the town on Thursday afternoon.

"Most of the residents fled so it looks like a ghost town," said resident Mohamed Added, adding that the government troops were in control. "There are very few people remaining, most of them elderly."

The African Union Mission in Somalia, or Amisom, last week launched "Operation Jubba Corridor" - an offensive it said was aimed at flushing the insurgents out of rural areas in southern Somalia and which has involved Ethiopian and Kenyan forces, officials said.

Witnesses have reported heavy casualties in the offensive with civilians caught up in the fighting.

The Shebab is fighting to overthrow Somalia's Western-backed government which is propped up and protected by the 22 000-strong Amisom force.