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| Somali militants attack key town of Afgoye near capital | Somali militants attack key town of Afgoye near capital |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| There has been fierce fighting near the Somali capital, Mogadishu, after fighters from the Islamist militant group al-Shabab overran a key town. | |
| Reports say at least four policemen and several civilians were killed when militants stormed Afgoye on Tuesday. | Reports say at least four policemen and several civilians were killed when militants stormed Afgoye on Tuesday. |
| A spokesman with the African Union mission to Somalia later said the gunmen had been forced out, but this was not confirmed. | A spokesman with the African Union mission to Somalia later said the gunmen had been forced out, but this was not confirmed. |
| Witnesses said gunshots could still be heard into the night. | Witnesses said gunshots could still be heard into the night. |
| The African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) is supporting the Somali government in its fight against al-Shabab. | The African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) is supporting the Somali government in its fight against al-Shabab. |
| Africa Live: Updates on this and other news | Africa Live: Updates on this and other news |
| Somalia's hopes for better future | Somalia's hopes for better future |
| Residents said the attack on Afgoye, 30km (18 miles) from Mogadishu, started when militants detonated a car bomb outside a police post, killing four policemen. | Residents said the attack on Afgoye, 30km (18 miles) from Mogadishu, started when militants detonated a car bomb outside a police post, killing four policemen. |
| People took cover in their homes as fighters appeared in parts of the town and clashed with Somali troops and African Union forces. | People took cover in their homes as fighters appeared in parts of the town and clashed with Somali troops and African Union forces. |
| Police officer Abdukadir Ahmed told AFP news agency that at least 10 people, including civilians, had been killed as well as some of the attackers. | Police officer Abdukadir Ahmed told AFP news agency that at least 10 people, including civilians, had been killed as well as some of the attackers. |
| Afgoye is considered a strategic town as it sits on one of only two roads into the capital. | Afgoye is considered a strategic town as it sits on one of only two roads into the capital. |
| As the fighting raged, both sides said they had control of the town. | As the fighting raged, both sides said they had control of the town. |
| Amisom troops captured Afgoye town in 2012. | Amisom troops captured Afgoye town in 2012. |